DENVER – "Bertie" the hippopotamus, a Denver Zoo favorite since 1958, died Monday morning. He was 58 years old.
"He will be missed by all of us, including the many families and children who visited him and came to know his charismatic personality over the years," Denver Zoo President and CEO Shannon Block said in a news release.
Bert was the oldest hippo in North America, and has been at the Denver Zoo the longest out of any of its residents. In the wild, hippos live for around 30 to 40 years, and up to 50 in captivity.
He was humanely euthanized Monday morning after his caretakers realized that his quality of life would not improve. Recently, the zoo says his appetite level dropped noticeably, and he was less interested in his training sessions with zookeepers. Veterinarians were limited in treating him because he wasn't responding to his medications.
"This is never an easy decision but it was the right one," Denver Zoo Vice President of Veterinary Medicine Scott Larsen said in a news release. "We'll all miss him very much, but were glad he lived such a long, happy life here at the zoo."
Bert arrived at the Denver Zoo on Dec. 16, 1958. He came from New York's Central Park Zoo, and was the first hippopotamus ever to reside in the Mile High City.
He is survived by 29 children. He only had two mates in his entire life.
His 12-year-old son, Hahali, is the only other hippopotamus at the Denver Zoo.
In lieu of flowers, the zoo will have cards available for guests to sign in Bertie's honor at the hippo exhibit.
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