TOPEKA, Kan. — A loved ostrich at the Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center in Kansas has died after swallowing a staff member’s keys.
The zoo introduced in a social media post Friday that the 5-year-old ostrich named Karen had reached past her showcase’s fence and grabbed and swallowed the worker’s keys. Staff consulted with professionals across the U.S. “to undergo surgical and non-surgical efforts to minimize the impact of the keys. Unfortunately, these efforts were unsuccessful,” the zoo stated.
Karen was once euthanized Thursday and “passed away in staff’s hands,” Topeka Zoo Interim Director Fawn Moser stated in an e-mail.
“We are devastated by the loss of Karen,” Moser stated in a commentary. “She was not just an animal; she was a beloved member of our community. Our thoughts are with our dedicated animal care team, who formed deep bonds with Karen during her time with us.”
The adored ostrich were at the zoo since March 2023. She was once identified for her love of enjoying in water “and, best of all, being our ‘dancing queen!’” the zoo stated.
The zoo stated it undertook an investigation and “is taking appropriate actions regarding the team member involved.” The zoo additionally stated it could evaluate and strengthen protection protocols for its animals.
The Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center is house to greater than 300 animals exhibited all over 35 acres, in step with its web page.