Dublin Zoo 'deeply saddened' following deaths of two animals
Illness At Zoo From Dublin Riona Who Unrelated Died Zoo/facebook Avani Orangutan And Elephant Picture: Dublin
Dublin Zoo has said it is “deeply saddened” to announce the deaths of two animals who died on Sunday.
An eight-year-old female Asian elephant named Avani and a 28-year-old Bornean orangutan Riona died from unrelated illnesses.
A statement said the zoo is “currently awaiting the results of post-mortem reports”.
The statement continued: “The entire Dublin Zoo team is devastated by this loss.
"Avani was an integral part of the Asian elephant herd at Dublin Zoo and was adored by the animal care team who worked with her.
"Riona, who was born to parents Leonie and Sibu in 1996, was a very clever and gentle orangutan. She will be greatly missed by the generations of Dublin Zoo keepers who cared for her over the past 28 years."
The animals’ deaths come just a month after the sudden death of a hippopotamus who arrived at the zoo from a safari park in the UK.
The male hippopotamus, named Ernie, had been reportedly “settling in well” in his new environment when he died.
The zoo said at the time it was “devastated and mourning the unexpected loss of Ernie”, whom they had already grown extremely fond of.
The statement concluded by saying that the team is currently awaiting the results of a “comprehensive examination to understand the cause of his sudden passing”.
Autopsies for animals at Dublin Zoo are carried out at UCD Veterinary Hospital in south Dublin.