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Two Beavers Die at Utica Zoo in the Same Week

Incident Date:
12/22/2023
Location:
Utica, NY - USA
Facility Name:
Utica Zoo
Facility Type:
Accredited AZA Facility (AZA)
Incident Category:
Animal Death (AD)
Species:
Other
Animal:
Beavers
Animal disposition:
Dead

Summary:

The Utica Zoo in New York has announced the deaths of two North American beavers in the same week of different causes. The beavers lived in the same habitat and included Frances, a male, and Jolene, a female.

According to the zoo, Frances’s health had been declining for a few months due to respiratory issues. Staff made the decision last week to euthanize the 5 ½-year-old beaver. The median life expectancy of beavers in the wild is 10+ years.

Jolene, who was not even three years old, had moved to the zoo in 2023 to join Frances. Staff saw her swimming around one day in December and did not notice anything to suggest she was unwell. But Jolene died suddenly overnight- keepers discovered her body the following morning. According to an initial pathology report, her stomach had ruptured.

Action take by Born Free USA:

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