SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Nov. 29, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — Hogle Zoo has euthanized two animals after they began to suffer declining health due to age, the zoo announced Thursday.
The animals were Glacier, a gray wolf, and Tukut, a bobcat.
“Glacier and Tukut exceeded life expectations by many years, providing staff and community years of education and appreciation,” a statement released Thursday by the zoo says.
Glacier was 12 years and 10 months old, the statement says, noting the average life expectancy for a wolf is 8 years.
“He made it very clear that it was his time to go,” said keeper, Janice Thompson.
Glacier came to the Zoo in 2009 from another facility and lived at Hogle with various companion wolves. His more recent companion, 11-year-old Angel, has shown signs of mourning, the statement says.
“She’s doing well, considering,” said Thompson. “She’s interacting with keepers, eating well and playful. Wolves do mourn but they do so differently than humans. We’re going to take great care of her.”
Angel may get a new companion or be transferred to a different facility, the statement says.
“He was a very sweet wolf” said keeper, Janice Thompson. “He had a very calm nature about him. Any time we fed him we’d get stopped by lots of guests with questions — they were always so excited to see him. Glacier was a special wolf and was very loved by all the keepers. We’ll miss him.”
Tukut (TOO-cut) was 22. Bobcats, similar to domestic cats, have a life expectancy of 12-13 years, the statement says.
Zoo animal care team offered Tukut senior care for years, the zoo information says. For the past two weeks keepers noted he was lethargic and lost interest in his two favorite things: eating and interacting with his keepers.
“That’s when we knew something was wrong,” said lead keeper Linsday Renner. “We could tell it was time.”
Tukut came to the Zoo in 2002 from The Living Desert Zoo in Arizona and quickly worked his way into the hearts of keepers.
“We sort of joke Tukut is a ‘gateway cat,'” said Renner. “He was the first foray into taking care of cats for many keepers. Often cats are aloof and do their own thing but Tukut would always perk up when a keeper walked by. He was happy to see you.”
Hogle Zoo still has a juvenile bobcat, Loki, living near African Savanna. The two cats were never housed together.
“These deaths were unrelated but do have old age in common,” the statement says. “Hogle Zoo has a long history of caring for elderly animals. Excellent veterinary care and dedicated animal care teams are credited with seeing many animals healthy and thriving well beyond their life expectancy. The Zoo is currently home to many senior animals including white rhinos, George and Princess; female tiger, Cila and female snow leopard, Nema.”
