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BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Brevard Zoo is heartbroken to share that they made the difficult decision last week to euthanize their 30-year-old female Baird’s tapir, Josie.
This was the final of many compassionate decisions made by Josie’s animal care team over the years to ensure she lived a long and comfortable life with us.
“I’m so proud of the care so many keepers have given here over her 30 years of life,” said Curator of Animals Kim Castrucci. “She was so loved and will continue to be forever. The Zoo won’t be the same without her.”
Josie was the second oldest female Baird’s tapir in a facility accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. “It was a privilege to provide her with the greatest possible care from her youth to her “golden years”, said a Zoo spokesperson.
In those later years, Josie developed several health issues that necessitated our animal care team to provide regular assessments to ensure her quality of life. The animal care team monitors all animal residents who are geriatric or living with ongoing health ailments.
In 2017, Josie’s left eye was removed after it lost vision following the development of a severe ulcer. Earlier this year, a similar ulcer developed in her remaining eye. Thanks to intensive care from her keepers and veterinarians along with consultations from an animal ophthalmologist, her eye showed significant improvement.
More recently, Josie began showing significant mobility issues. Despite medication to make her more comfortable, the normally active Josie was still struggling to stand and move her back legs. The decision was made to euthanize her to prevent future suffering.
Josie was one of just a few animal residents who had called the Zoo home since the opening year in 1994. The Zoo watched her grow into an adult tapir, become a mom (and now a great grandma), and bring so much joy to the zoo’s keepers, volunteers and guests over the years.
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