Toronto Zoo’s 39-year-old river hippo euthanized

Petal, Toronto's Zoo 39-year-old river hippo, has died. (Toronto Zoo)

The Toronto Zoo’s 39-year-old river hippo was euthanized over the weekend.

In a post on social media on Sunday, the zoo announced that the hippo named Petal was euthanized during an examination with its wildlife health team and an external specialist veterinary dentist.

The zoo shared that the hippo had been “doing fairly well” after undergoing a dental procedure in May to remove a tusk. Before that, she also had a molar extraction.

However, the examination on Saturday found “multiple significant issues that would be very difficult to treat,” given her age, the zoo said.

“With the severity of the multiple infections around the bone, managing it would be incredibly difficult with no guarantee of recovery. After the examination was completed and while she was still under general anesthesia, we decided that humane euthanasia was the right course of medical treatment to manage her well-being,” the zoo wrote in the post.

“When an animal is experiencing serious health problems, pain, or suffering, and there are no signs of recovery or meaningful quality of life ahead, euthanasia is considered a treatment option. It allows us to prevent ongoing discomfort and ensure that the animal’s final moments are peaceful and dignified, reflecting the deep care and respect we have for them.”

According to the zoo, river hippos are the third heaviest land mammals and usually can be found in sub-Saharan Africa. They have a life span of 40 to 50 years.

The zoo paid tribute to Petal, describing her as having a “larger-than-life personality” and having an “unforgettable presence” in its African Savanna along with her sister Perky.

“For nearly four decades, Petal brought joy, wonder, and inspiration to millions of Toronto Zoo guests,” the post read.

“While we will miss her deeply, Petal’s legacy lives on in every person she inspired to care about river hippos and all the species who share our planet.”

The zoo said Petal would undergo a post-mortem examination at the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph.