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  • Donna chews recently on a head of lettuce as she floats around in her pool. The hippo, who is 60 years old and believed to be the oldest animal of her kind in captivity, was set to be euthanized at the Evansville Zoo Wednesday because of her deteriorating health. Photo courtesy Evansville Courier and Press

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August 1, 2012

Donna the hippo to be euthanized

60-year-old animal believed to be the oldest hippopotamus in captivity

By JESSICA WRAY Evansville Courier & Press

EVANSVILLE — After more than 50 years at Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden, Donna the hippopotamus, believed to be the oldest such creature in captivity, was set to be euthanized on Wednesday because of her failing health.

Zoo director Amos Morris confirmed the news Tuesday afternoon about the 60-year-old hippo, a fixture at the Evansville facility. Most hippos live to their 40s.

“The one thing I can offer Donna is a humane passing. And handling her with dignity and care. And have as painless a passing as possible,” Morris said. “I’m honored to do that for an animal that has been with the zoo for such a long time.”

Donna has been battling a litany of health problems, including arthritis and kidney failure. Morris said that over the past four to six weeks, zoo staff members have noticed that the hippo “has gotten bad in her rear legs.”

Morris said she is “severely compromised” in all of her legs, but especially bad in her right rear leg. Over the past week, he said, he’s observed that Donna is now straining to work her left leg to compensate for her lack of mobility in that leg.

“She has a hard time moving herself, to the point that she uses her face as a crutch,” Morris said. “So she’ll put her face on the ground to move her leg forward.”

“Seeing that as a potential that the left leg could break down, I felt it necessary to move forward with the humane euthanasia.”

Workers have had to bring Donna’s food to her in the pool at the Kley Building as her health would not allow her to leave the water without assistance to graze.

“More recently over the past couple weeks, she’s really decreased in her mobility to the point where, quite frankly, it’s difficult for her to walk at all,” said Maria Spriggs, staff veterinarian for the zoo. “It’s the equivalent of being bedridden in some ways. We have to bring her food to her because she’s not able to get out and eat in the places she’s been able to eat her entire life.”

Spriggs said Donna’s no longer able to navigate steps anymore, and she’s no longer able to exit her pool.

“I believe that she probably is in some pain,” Spriggs said. “I think that’s why she’s not moving around normally anymore. Despite the medications we are treating her with for pain.”

Morris said Donna will be buried on zoo property.

“I just want to emphasize as in death, this is stressful,” Morris said. “There are mixed feelings among all my staff and those feelings I deeply respect. But ultimately, I believe I am doing what is best for our hippo.”

Morris said a memorial fund will be set up for people to donate in Donna’s memory.

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