CHICAGO (AFP) - An elephant named Patience killed a zookeeper in Missouri on Friday, just days after the matriarch of the zoo's elephant herd was put to sleep.

Officials have not yet determined why Patience charged elephant manager John Phillips Bradford, 62, who had worked at the zoo for 30 years.

However, there were reports that the female elephant had a history of aggressive behaviour.

"This is very sad day for the zoo family, as well as our community as a whole," said Mr Mike Crocker, director of the Dikerson Park Zoo in Springfield, Missouri.

Several other staff were on hand with Bradford when the elephant charged at 8:45 am.

"He was a very experienced animal manager," city spokeswoman Cora Scott told AFP.

"We haven't had a situation like this happen before." Zoo officials were forced to euthanize the herd's matriarch, Connie, last week after she lost nearly 1,000 pounds due to advanced kidney disease and then simply lay down and was unable to get up.

It was not clear what would happen to Patience, but the zoo said it would remain open on Friday.

Patience, 41, has been at the zoo since 1990, the Springfield News-Leader reported. The zoo's elephant herd consisted of three females and two males prior to Connie's death.