SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, April 9, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — Hogle Zoo officials announced Sunday that Rizzo, the facility’s only polar bear, has died at the age of 19.
Officials had said Saturday that Rizzo was in renal failure, and was being given end-of-life care.
Caretakers noticed Rizzo had been lethargic, and was unable to keep food down, the zoo said in a prepared statement.
“After a long week of attentive care, Hogle Zoo veterinary and animal care staff made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize Rizzo,” the statement said. “She was in renal failure; a terminal condition in which the kidneys cannot filter waste from the blood.”
Zoo veterinarians and animal care staff kept Rizzo comfortable and monitored her on an hour-by-hour basis, the statement added. Her condition began to decline throughout Saturday afternoon.
Rizzo passed comfortably and pain free.
“We announced her condition yesterday knowing how much she meant to the community,” said Erica Hansen, community relations manager, in a prepared statement. “We were hoping we had more time.”
As per regular Zoo procedure, veterinarians will perform a necropsy; an animal autopsy, to give Rizzo a thorough medical work-up and to contribute further to the science and study of the species.
“How do you thank a bear who has brought so much to the lives of so many?” said Hansen. “Our Facebook page has been flooded with our guests sharing photos and memories. She just brought so much joy — we will miss her everyday.”
