Five years after the “last” giant softshell turtle died, one and possibly three more turn up, plus one in zoo HANOI, Vietnam––Five years after the January 2016 death of Cu Rua in Hoan Kiem Lake plunged Vietnam into national mourning for the legendary giant softshell turtle, then believed to have been the last of […]
Trixie the whale shark dies young at the Georgia Aquarium
Three whale sharks left of six brought from Taiwan in 2006-2007 ATLANTA, Georgia––Trixie the whale shark, who could have lived up to 130 years in the wild, died on November 27, 2020 after just 14 years at the Georgia Aquarium. Trixie, believed to have been about 32 feet long, still about eight feet short […]
Takaya the “sea wolf” headed for home, but hunter shot him
Lived for eight years almost within sight of British Columbia provincial parliament VICTORIA, B.C., Canada––Takaya, 10, the “sea wolf” star of the 2019 CBC Nature of Things documentary “Takaya: Lone Wolf,” was on March 24, 2020 shot by a hunter near Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia, possibly after being chased and/or mauled by the hunter’s […]
Arun Rangsi, 39, “heart gibbon” of IPPL founder Shirley McGreal
Arun Rangsi was living link to IPPL origins SUMMERVILLE, South Carolina––“The International Primate Protection League is devastated to report the loss of our first lab gibbon, Arun Rangsi, who was also my ‘heart gibbon,’” IPPL founder Shirley McGreal posted to social media. Arun Rangsi was a living link to IPPL cofounder Ardith Eudey, Ph.D., a […]
Snooty, 69, last Florida manatee without propeller scars, drowns in tank
Oldest manatee on record was second born in captivity BRADENTON, Florida––Snooty, 69, both the oldest Florida manatee on record and the only Florida manatee on record who lacked scars from boat propellers, drowned on July 22, 2017 at the South Florida Aquarium in Bradenton, his almost lifelong home. Snooty had two scars on his […]
Why the Oregon Zoo euthanized Packy the elephant
Antibiotic-resistant asymptomatic TB strain had epidemic potential PORTLAND, Oregon––Oregon Zoo veterinary staff on February 9, 2017 euthanized Packy, 54, the oldest male elephant in the U.S., after a multi-year losing battle against an antibiotic-resistant strain of the lung disease tuberculosis which had already killed two other Oregon Zoo elephants and infected seven zoo staff […]
Did bad teeth kill Tilikum? Necropsy would tell us––if released
Chewed on steel gates in between killing three people ORLANDO, Florida––Tilikum, 36, the most notorious of orca whales, died at SeaWorld Orlando early on January 6, 2016 “surrounded by trainers, care staff and veterinarians,” SeaWorld said in a prepared statement. The death of Tilikum leaves SeaWorld with 23 orcas, including seven males and 16 […]
A tale of two of the world’s oldest tigers, both named Bengali
One Bengali lived at Big Cat Rescue, the other at Associated Humane Societies’ Popcorn Park Zoo Bengali, 21 or 22 years of age, either way one of the half dozen oldest tigers on record, and one of two tigers within that elite half dozen to share the name Bengali, died on May 31, 2016 at […]
Life & death decision at Hidden Beach
by Beth Clifton My husband Merritt and I drove to Hidden Beach, down the hill from our home, late last Sunday afternoon, with our dog Bo, as we had done many times before. At Hidden Beach we walk, run on the sand and crushed shells, sit on driftwood, watch Bo sniffing at dead crabs, and […]
Ringling elephant dies of herpes
Blow to breeding & research plans ELLENTON, Florida––The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation on January 25, 2016 lost a baby elephant named Mike to elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus––a blow to Ringling ambitions both in captive elephant breeding and in disease research. Birthed on June 27, 2013, Mike was among 26 […]