We are starting off the new year with some heartbreaking news.
Today, we made the difficult decision to euthanize two of our beloved animals, with quality of life being the primary consideration for each. These decisions are never taken lightly and all options are carefully evaluated. Ultimately, our care team acts in the best interest of the animals to prevent unnecessary suffering or prolonged decline.
Our 34-year-old male red-bellied lemur, Eno, was the last of his kind in any North American zoo. Born at Duke Lemur Center in 1991, Eno was a fan and staff favorite at the Zoo since he first came here, and was distinguished by his large round eyes, with white teardrop shaped patches surrounding them. Red-bellied lemurs typically live until age 30 under human care (and between 20-25 years in the wild). Eno had been previously diagnosed with kidney disease and was being closely monitored by his care team. Unfortunately, his health declined rapidly due to complications from this condition.
According to his long-time keeper, Eno was so loved and a favorite of his caretakers because of his easy-going personality. “He smelled like a box of crayons and sounded like a squeaky toy when he vocalized. His fur parted down the middle on top of his head like a dapper little gentleman.” His favorite pals to explore and hunker with were crowned lemur Desi, and Redwood, the red-fronted lemur. His favorite treats were dates and bananas.
We are also mourning the loss today of our 19-year-old leucistic male Magellanic penguin, Freckles, whom many guests recognize for his white coat sprinkled with black spots, or “freckles,” which inspired his name.
In mid-December, staff noticed that Freckles was having trouble breathing and could no longer climb onto Penguin Island. After he was examined in the hospital, veterinary staff provided intensive care and round-the-clock monitoring to keep him comfortable and stable. Unfortunately, his neurologic condition did not improve. By yesterday, Freckles appeared confused and did not respond when staff approached him, touched him, or called his name. Despite treatment with several medications, his quality of life had declined significantly, and his condition placed him at a high risk of drowning if he were given access to a pool.
Freckles hatched in 2006 at the John Ball Zoo and had been here most of his life. According to staff, Freckles was “ornery,” focused on protecting his burrow, and mostly kept to himself and his long-time mate, Frenchie. Magellanic penguins are monogamous, typically mating for life, so caretakers are keeping a close eye on Frenchie as they know this loss will affect her. According to his primary caretaker, Freckles was a “good dad, and great at catching fish – something his three offspring all also do well.”
Both Eno and Freckles were remarkable ambassadors for their species, educating and inspiring millions of guests throughout their lives. Red-bellied lemurs are vulnerable due to habitat loss in Madagascar, and Magellanic penguins are near threatened as climate change and human impacts affect their coastal habitats. Through their presence and the connections they helped create, Eno and Freckles raised awareness of these challenges and the importance of conservation. They leave a lasting mark for so many of us, and will be missed.
For both animals, pathology results are pending.