DENVER — The Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance said on Tuesday that it recently euthanized one of its African wild dogs.
Tilly, who was 11 years old, was showing increasing signs of discomfort, including difficulty walking and appetite loss. Animal Health and Animal Care teams made the decision to euthanize her “to relieve her of any suffering.” She died peacefully, surrounded by those who loved and cared for her, the zoo said.
During her life, Tilly helped give scientists tools to support conservation efforts for the species. She was one of the only wild dogs trained for abdominal ultrasounds, providing information about how the pups grow in utero.
Apart from her scientific contributions, Tilly’s “playful nature and unique behavior have left a lasting impact on her care team,” according to the zoo.
She was known for being joyful and energetic, and for greeting her caretakers with excitement. She also actively participated in her daily routines and quickly learned new behaviors.
Tilly came to the zoo in January 2014 after spending the first year and a half of her life at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. Her mom was also born at the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance to their original alpha pair, Daisy and Judd.
She gave birth to puppies in 2017. Tilly’s playfulness and unique behavior lives on in her three sons, Nigel, Livingstone and Theodore, the zoo says. Her fourth pup and the only female of the litter, Cholula, went to the Dallas Zoo in 2020.
