Kansas City Zoo cares for aging animals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Like other zoos across the nation, the Kansas City Zoo is increasingly caring for an aging population of exotic animals.

The animals are living longer. But that longevity has made for a bleak time recently at the zoo, which reported the death of a valued orangutan and two California sea lions during December.

All died because of old age. Two were euthanized to end their pain, and the third entered its death throes just as she was about to be euthanized.

And more bad news is expected.

Advances in nutrition and medicine are prolonging the life spans of many creatures, just as they are for humans. But the end remains inevitable.

"There comes a time when there is nothing else we can do," said Jane Ballentine, spokeswoman for the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. "As with the beloved cat or dog, when the vet tells you quality of life is no longer there, you have to make these very difficult decisions. With an orangutan or a panda or an elephant, it's just as difficult and just as painful."

Casey the elephant, in the Kansas City Zoo, is the oldest and perhaps the largest African bull elephant in North America.

"He's 12,000 to 14,000 pounds, and he's been standing for 52 years," said chief zoo vet Kirk Suedmeyer. "The joints wear out, and we see significant arthritis."

Casey also has cataracts, and he is on the last of his six sets of teeth. In the wild, when the last 10-inch by 8-inch molars are gone, so is the animal because it starves to death. In the zoo, Casey still will be able to ingest his special diet.

The increasing importance of geriatric care among zoos can be directly traced to improvements in nutrition, medicine and exhibits, officials say.

In the days when most zoo animals were confined within iron bars on concrete slabs, they were more susceptible to lead poisoning and arthritis.

Today, most animals at the Kansas City Zoo live in spacious environments. Those with arthritis receive medicines to increase the fluid in their joints and to ease their pain.

For zoos that cannot handle older animals, a growing number of sanctuaries exist. They provide retirement homes for species that range from domestic livestock to elephants and bears. A private facility for gorillas in Atlanta is seeking certification.

But having elderly animals is actually a sign of success for zoos. For example, Kansas City officials are proud to have a species of starling native to Africa that has reached 26 years old, far beyond its life expectancy of 12.