PORTLAND, Oregon - Tusko has lost his tusk. And that’s a good thing because an infection was making the Oregon Zoo elephant sick.

Oregon Zoo

It took a team of veterinarians four hours to remove Tusko's damaged tusk.

Sunday’s surgery started in the morning and lasted four hours.

Using a custom-made drill bit, veterinarians were able to carve out the remaining pieces of Tusko’s tusk.

SLIDESHOW: Tusko faces the drill a 2nd time

It was the second surgery this year to remove the stubborn remnants of ivory.

The hardened pieces were stuck even further up the tusk socket than zoo veterinarian Mitch Finnegan expected.

“Took another five inches of drilling to get to the bottom of it all. Lots of people on pry bars and drills again just like the first time but, finally, (we) got to the end of it this time.”

The zoo proudly displayed the two large bits of tusk for several minutes after the surgery.

The 36-year-old elephant sluggishly woke up from the operation.

Tusko might be able to make a public appearance at the zoo in a day or two.