SEATTLE - A 12-year-old, male ostrich at Woodland Park Zoo has been euthanized because of injuries apparently caused by a fall in its naturalistic exhibit, the African Savanna.
The male ostrich apparently fell into a water tub, just minutes after one of our keepers checked on him, said Martin Ramirez, mammal curator at the zoo
The bird, named Ozzie, was the sole remaining ostrich at the zoo and shared the exhibit with zebras, giraffe, gazelle and oryx.
The zoo said in a press release that despite emergency treatments and supportive care by zoo veterinary staff to treat Ozzie, the ostrich was in obvious pain from severe injuries.
The bird progressively declined and euthanasia was the most humane option for this 250-pound patient, said Dr. Darin Collins, director of Woodland Park Zoo's Animal Health.
Preliminary necropsy findings confirmed leg and head trauma with extensive soft tissue muscle damage.
The zoo lost its female ostrich less than two weeks ago after a critical leg injury during a diagnostic medical procedure to treat a chronic fungal infection.
