SEATTLE — The Woodland Park Zoo said Wednesday it will say goodbye to one of its hippopotamuses next week.
Water Lily, a 45-year-old hippo, has experienced declining health and quality of life after she was diagnosed with cancer last month, the zoo said in a release on Wednesday. The hippo, also known as Lily, will be humanely euthanized early next week.
The Woodland Park Zoo said Lily will continue to use her pool and outdoor habitat over the coming days and will be visible through Sunday to community members who wish to say farewell.
Lily was born in August 1978 at Houston Zoo and moved to Woodland Park Zoo in October 1979.
“Everyone who worked with Lily realized how special she was," said Lauren Sutherland-Cook, lead animal keeper. "For those she trusted, you got the privilege of knowing all her favorite things. The best spot to scratch her under her chin, her ear wiggles she would give as she surfaced in the pool when she heard you call her, and how she would always ask for a treat when she saw you even if it was just lettuce. But if it was something extra good, like a watermelon, she would suck every last bit of juice that spilled out of it. She touched the lives of every keeper who had the joy of working with her."
Last month, the zoo said Lily underwent an anesthetic procedure to evaluate her teeth, wound and swelling on her cheek. A biopsy revealed a diagnosis of fibrosarcoma, a type of cancer of connective tissue. According to the zoo, Lily's care team and veterinarians have monitored her health and wellbeing since the surgery. Since the operation, there have been changes that indicate a declining quality of life for Lily including decreased mobility, unsteadiness, and having a harder time rising and getting out of her pool.
“I am so thankful for our dedicated and experienced hippo caretakers who have been closely monitoring Lily for signs of decline since her cancer diagnosis, which they are now seeing and that we believe are irreversible," said Dr. Tim Storms, director of animal health. "A euthanasia decision is always very difficult, but we feel strongly that now is the best time to intervene to prevent her from declining to the point where her bad days outnumber her good days.”
The zoo said it is preparing to support Lupe, a 25-year-old hippo who has shared her habitat with Lily since 2003.
Zoo officials are looking at options to move Lupe to another accredited zoo, where she can be accompanied by other hippos. The zoo said it will update the public once a new home and relocation timeline for Lupe are identified.