AILING ZEBRA EUTHANIZED AT OREGON ZOO
Veterinarians believe congestive heart failure caused Frack’s rapid decline - PORTLAND, OR
It’s been a tough few weeks for the Oregon Zoo’s animal-care staff.
Yesterday zoo veterinarians lost their monthlong battle to save Batik, a
22-year-old Sumatran orangutan, and this morning they were faced with the
difficult task of euthanizing Frack, a 28-year-old Damara zebra.
Zoo
veterinarians believe Frack had been suffering from congestive heart failure, a
diagnosis they made by comparing the zebra’s clinical signs and symptoms
to those of domestic horses. A confirmed diagnosis would have required an
anesthetized exam, which was deemed too risky due to Frack’s compromised
lung function. Unlike horses, zebras are not docile enough to be examined
without general anesthesia.
“We’ve
been treating Frack four more than four months, with a lot of clinical advice
and support from veterinarians Jennifer Saunders and Karen Blake at Willamette
Valley Equine Surgical and Medical Center,” said zoo veterinarian Lisa
Harrenstien. “She appeared to be managing well with her many medications
for the first few months, but she started to decline a few weeks ago, and was
having increased difficulty breathing. This was a sign that her lungs were
becoming more fluid-filled, due to back-pressure from declining heart
function.” |
 Frack,
left, a 28-year-old Damara zebra, gets a nuzzle from Citation, her
exhibit mate at the Oregon Zoo. The ailing Frack was euthanized this morning;
zoo veterinarians believe she suffered from congestive heart failure. Photo
courtesy of the Oregon Zoo. |
Another
exam with the support of local equine veterinarians had been scheduled, but
Frack’s condition worsened too quickly for that one to take place. Frack
was born at the Kansas City Zoo in January 1982, and moved to the Oregon Zoo in
March 1999 along with her exhibit mate, Citation. Damara
zebras typically live more than 20 years. They are very social animals, and
have exceptional
hearing and eyesight. When a threat is perceived, zebras will run, reaching
speeds up to 40 mph. The plains zebra makes a sound quite unlike the neigh of a
horse or the bray of a donkey; its alarm signal is a yelping bark.While not
endangered, the Damara
zebra population
is thought to be in decline.
The
zoo is a service of Metro and is dedicated to its mission of inspiring the community
to create a better future for wildlife. Committed to conservation, the zoo is
currently working to save endangered California condors, Washington’s
pygmy rabbits, Oregon silverspot and Taylor’s checkerspot butterflies,
western pond turtles, Oregon spotted frogs and Kincaid’s lupine. Other
projects include studies on black rhinos, Asian elephants, polar bears and
bats.
The
zoo opens at 8 a.m. daily and is located five minutes from downtown Portland,
just off Highway 26. The zoo is also accessible by MAX light rail line.
Visitors who travel to the zoo via MAX receive $1.50 off zoo admission. Call
TriMet Customer Service, 503-238-RIDE (7433), or visit www.trimet.org for fare and
route information.
General
admission is $10.50 (ages 12-64), $9 for seniors (65 and up), $7.50 for
children (ages 3-11) and free for those 2 and younger; 25 cents of the
admission price helps fund regional conservation projects through the
zoo’s Future for Wildlife program. A parking fee of $2 per car is also
required. Additional information is available at www.oregonzoo.org or by calling
503-226-1561.
# # #
Oregon
Zoo ¨ 4001 SW Canyon Rd. ¨ Portland,
Oregon 97221 ¨ 503-226-1561
|
