KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Zoo Knoxville announced Tuesday that a zebra died from complications after he twisted his small intestine.
The zebra was named "Die Toekoms" and the zoo said he was 8 years old. He arrived at Zoo Knoxville in 2018 and fathered two children, who still live in the zoo.
Caretakers said he was showing symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort on Friday and the veterinary team administered medications to relieve pain and its swelling.
However, further symptoms indicated an obstruction in his bowels and the zebra was taken to the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine for emergency surgery. There, medical staff learned a large section of his small intestine had twisted, cutting off the blood supply and causing some of the tissue to die.
Surgeons said that the amount of tissue death made it unlikely the zebra would recover, so leaders made the decision to humanely euthanize him. Around 67 cm of the zebra's bowel had died, according to a necropsy.
“Unfortunately, despite our rapid intervention and the skilled team working to save him, the prognosis for Die Toekoms was grim,” said Phil Colclough, Director of Animal Care, Conservation and Education. “The kindest thing we could do was make sure he left this world peacefully and with dignity.”