Zoo Losses of Tragic Proportion

[Pertinax]

The Sumatran rhinos that all died in USA zoos because their biology and feeding habits were largely not understood...then finally the deaths of remaining females Emi and Suci at Cincinnati that put paid to any further hope of establishing a captive population in the states.

Every ape that has died by drowning in water-moated enclosures.From Makoko the gorilla at the Bronx Zoo onwards. Apart from the tragedy of loss it has often involved an individual e.g. a breeding silverback that is extremely hard to replace.

 

[AmbikaFan]

The Chester Zoo lost 20+ penguins, half the clock, due to an avian malaria outbreak a few years ago. I could have added that when I started the post, but it seemed that they had experienced quite enough without mentioning it. I'm saddened to see all the additional misfortune they have experienced.

 

[Brum]

The Chester Zoo lost 20+ penguins, half the clock, due to an avian malaria outbreak a few years ago.

entire colonies, maybe Whipsnade as well.sure that both Marwell and Exmoor have lost

UK zoos do tend to have the occasional bad run with penguins. In recent memory I'm pretty sure that both Marwell and Exmoor have lost entire colonies. And maybe Whipsnade as well?

 

[DesertRhino150]

entire colonies, maybe Whipsnade as well.sure that both Marwell and Exmoor have lost

UK zoos do tend to have the occasional bad run with penguins. In recent memory I'm pretty sure that both Marwell and Exmoor have lost entire colonies. And maybe Whipsnade as well?

Of course, Longleat lost almost their entire colony to avian malaria not that long ago and ended up replacing them with giant otters and crocodiles instead.

 

[Brum]

Of course, Longleat lost almost their entire colony to avian malaria not that long ago and ended up replacing them with giant otters and crocodiles instead.

Of course, I knew there was a recent one I'd forgot.

 

[Meaghan Edwards]

IMO, Toronto Zoo's African Bush Elephants. Should never have gone to that scamtuary.

 

[Echobeast]

I’m surprised nobody has mentioned Zoo Knoxville yet. They lost nearly their entire reptile house in one night due to a still unknown toxin.

 

[AmbikaFan]

I’m surprised nobody has mentioned Zoo Knoxville yet. They lost nearly their entire reptile house in one night due to a still unknown toxin.

OMG That's alarming. I'm still disconcerted by the previous report of anthrax deaths. Things like anthrax aren't really ubiquitous and found in the air we breathe. Some toxins just don't occur naturally. Some of these stories sound like premeditated crimes, like the one in Syracuse that started my thinking on the thread in the first place. What were the circumstances in Knoxville?

 

[ThylacineAlive]

Hurricane Maria devastating the zoo in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, leaving the animals and staff with no food, water, or electricity. Most animals who survived the storm have since died of starvation, dehydration, or illness. When word of this reached the States, the media was quick to label the zoo and all who work there as murderers and animal abusers, and petitions sweeped the internet demanding that the zoo be shut down for good and all the remaining animals be sent to one of PR's many luxurious animal sanctuaries at the full expense of the zoo. The zoo has never received any assistance or support from the media or AZA (who worked with the zoo to some capacity) afaik and it's likely they will never reopen. I'm not even sure if they have any surviving animals left to be honest. The zoo was home to various endangered species such as rhinos, hippos, giraffes, chimps, tigers, and native fauna including what was probably the only captive population for the threatened Puerto Rican Plains Pigeon.

~Thylo

 

[Echobeast]

OMG That's alarming. I'm still disconcerted by the previous report of anthrax deaths. Things like anthrax aren't really ubiquitous and found in the air we breathe. Some toxins just don't occur naturally. Some of these stories sound like premeditated crimes, like the one in Syracuse that started my thinking on the thread in the first place. What were the circumstances in Knoxville?

Here’s an article about it.

Unknown toxin killed 34 Zoo Knoxville reptiles

 

[Gavinj90]

Yes I remember it being in the UK as well.

As for the eggs being in one basket, all I can say is sometimes you don't really have a choice. Some of these snail populations have been so small that they all have to be condensed to one zoo. Even as the populations grow, it seems very few zoos are capable to successfully keeping them in the first place, meaning bred stock often has to remain at the collection breeding them. The fact that these animals must be kept in biosecure rooms (they likely can only be kept with other snails as well) will also make it extremely expensive and difficult for zoos to spread them out between buildings. The need for such rooms will surely deter further zoos from taking on the programs. As far as the UK goes, I'm pretty sure only Bristol, Edinburgh, and London keep them, so all populations are pretty condensed. At both London and Bristol, there are windows into the lab where the snails are kept (I'm not sure if they have other rooms aside from these) and in both cases it's simply rows upon rows of tanks filled with groups of snails are several different species. The only time I've ever seen a Partula outside of a biosecure room was in the then Australasia house at Roger Williams back in 2012. To my knowledge the zoo no longer has any snails...

~Thylo

Chester, too, but they don't display them. I may be wrong, but I seem to remember back in the '90s that they were the first/only zoo to be breeding them.

 

[Tim May]

An Asian Elephant was stillborn at London Zoo in the 19th century. The mother belonged to 'Lord' George Sanger's Circus, and had been sent to the Zoo to have her calf.

Apologies for being pedantic but it was early 20th century not 19th century; to be precise, the elephant was stillborn 31st August 1902.

 

[FBBird]

Apologies for being pedantic but it was early 20th century not 19th century; to be precise, the elephant was stillborn 31st August 1902.

Whoops, my bad, I should have checked that

 

[KevinB]

What happened at my local zoo, Zoo Planckendael, last year would count as pretty tragic I would say.

On May 28th 2018 juvenile Asian elephant Qiyo, just a few weeks shy of three years old, suddenly died due to EEHV.

On June 4th Asian elephant female Khaing Phyo Phyo had to be euthanized to a sudden great decline in health as a result of kidney failure, the sad end of ongoing health issues. The autopsy later revealed she also had tumors in her lungs and uterus. Phyo Phyo had a calf born on April 11th, 2018, Tarzen, and he was hand-fed by the keepers after her death but didn't make it.

On June 21st Asiatic lioness Rani escaped from the lion exhibit due to human error by one of the keepers who left open a set of doors. Attempts were made to sedate her by the veterinarian but those failed and the police intervention squad that came on site decided the animal had to be shot and killed. After this event animal rights activists held protests against Planckendael.

On June 26th baby elephant Tarzen, born April 11th, suddenly collapsed and died in his sleep in the elephant house. Despite the best care of the keepers he never did well or gained weight after the death of his mother. It is possible that due to the tumor found in Phyo Phyo on autopsy he functioned as a premature calf, despite being born after a full-term pregnancy.

So yeah, 2018 really wasn't a good year for Planckendael, especially that one month. They also suffered from the heat that summer, but they still had good visitor numbers and the controversy from the events luckily died down fairly quickly.

 

[Pertinax]

but they still had good visitor numbers and the controversy from the events luckily died down fairly quickly.

Sounds like June was not a good month there...but as you say, these things are only controversial for a short period while making the news, and memory is short. Its the same in UK zoos also. Two examples, the badly-managed South Lakes Wild Animal Park, and the recent killing of one tiger by another at London Zoo- these are not newsworthy anymore.

 

[AmbikaFan]

I'm not sure how I created this thread without mentioning the Oregon Zoo's losses with elephants. Over the last few years, they lost Rama, the famous Packy, bull Tusko, and then calf Lily of EEHV, leaving the herd at half its former size and leaving Oregon Zoo-lovers with very heavy hearts. Just recently, there was some surprise joy for all when rare Bornean elephant Chendra became pregnant. A chance to continue this rare sub-species and have a baby in Portland again! Alas, yesterday it was announced that Chendra had miscarried and would probably never get pregnant again.. For some reason Rose-Tu, their sole prospective mother now, has not had a calf in six years. This is truly loss of tragic proportion, and my heart goes out once again to Bob Lee and everyone at the Oregon Zoo.

 

[Elephantelephant]

I'm not sure how I created this thread without mentioning the Oregon Zoo's losses with elephants. Over the last few years, they lost Rama, the famous Packy, bull Tusko, and then calf Lily of EEHV, leaving the herd at half its former size and leaving Oregon Zoo-lovers with very heavy hearts. Just recently, there was some surprise joy for all when rare Bornean elephant Chendra became pregnant. A chance to continue this rare sub-species and have a baby in Portland again! Alas, yesterday it was announced that Chendra had miscarried and would probably never get pregnant again.. For some reason Rose-Tu, their sole prospective mother now, has not had a calf in six years. This is truly loss of tragic proportion, and my heart goes out once again to Bob Lee and everyone at the Oregon Zoo.

I think Rose-Tu will get pregnant soon. Its only suitable partner was Tusko. Packy and Rama were related to her. It is possible that recently Tusko was not suitable for breeding. In the autumn of 2018, mating Rose-Tu and Samson were observed. Probably not pregnant, as this would have been reported.

 

[AmbikaFan]

It is possible that recently Tusko was not suitable for breeding.

Unfortunately, Tusko died and has not been around for close to two years now, so there has been no recent activity with Tusko. He did have TB from 2013-2015, but recovered completely and was back with the herd. We're just learning from the article that Shine was TB-free as of 2017, so she clearly had a bout between 2015-2017. Perhaps Rose-Tu has or had TB too, and that accounts for her lack of pregnancy.

 

[Emanuel Theodorus]

On July 18 2016, a huge rainstorm which causes a pump circuit shortage kills all 18 Cownose Rays and 3 Bamboo Sharks in John Ball Zoo.

 

[Emanuel Theodorus]

More colony of stingrays death:

1. Calgary Zoo (May 2008) Cause: One of the four pumps didn't work, causing decrease in oxygen, killing 41 out of 43 Cownose Rays

2. Brookfield Zoo (13 July 2015) Cause: A malfunction causes sudden oxygen drop, killing all 4 Southern Stingrays and 50 Cownose Rays.

Seems stingray pool exhibits are rather risky exhibits.