A petted ostrich died last week after reaching outside its enclosure at the Kansas Zoo, grabbing an employee's keys and swallowing them, according to the Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center.
Karen, a 5-year-old ostrich, has been a resident of the zoo for about a year and has been known for her “playful antics,” including swimming in the zoo's pool, playing in the sprinklers, and “dancing” around the zoo. It was famous. she said on social media Friday.
“Zoo visitors and employees alike developed deep connections with her,” said the center, which is located about 105 miles west of Kansas City, Kansas and houses more than 300 animals.
However, Karen's life was tragically cut short when she grabbed the key “over the exhibit fence” and swallowed it immediately, the zoo said, and it teamed up with experts from around the country to save Karen in both ways. He said he had consulted with him. Means “surgical” and “non-surgical”. “Unfortunately, these efforts were unsuccessful,” the zoo said.
Karen was euthanized on Thursday and “passed her last breath in the hands of a staff member,” the zoo's interim director Fawn Moser told The Associated Press. She did not immediately respond to requests for further information and her interview Monday afternoon.
The zoo said on social media that it was conducting an investigation into the incident and was “taking appropriate action regarding the team members involved.” The zoo also said it plans to establish new protocols to avoid similar incidents in the future.
Although ostriches cannot fly, they are known for their incredible speed. A frightened bird can run at speeds of about 75 miles per hour and can deliver a deadly kick to a predator if cornered. They can live up to about 40 years in the wild and even longer in captivity.
“We are devastated by the loss of Karen,” Moser said in a social media post. “She was more than just an animal. She was a beloved member of our community,” she added.