Amy Schwabe
Patti — a river hippopotamus and a favorite animal at the Milwaukee County Zoo since she arrived in 1972 — has died.
Patti was humanely euthanized on Sunday, Nov. 10. According to a statement from the zoo, 55-year-old Patti — who was considered geriatric compared to the 36.7-year median life expectancy of hippos living in human care — was reluctant to move out of her pool on Saturday, Nov. 9, and appeared lethargic.
After observing Patti continue to quickly decline through the night, according to the zoo's statement, "the decision was made to humanely euthanize her. Patti died surrounded by her animal care team, including the zookeepers who best knew and loved her, comforting her to the very end, including rubbing her ears and feet."
The statement also noted that a preliminary necropsy indicated that Patti had severe gastroenteritis.
Zoo staff remembered Patti as "opinionated and spirited," noting that when the new outdoor hippo habitat opened in 2020, Patti was reluctant to explore, but that had changed over the past two years: "Patti was very curious and engaged with the public, coming over to the viewing window to watch all the guests, especially little kids."
Patti's death leaves Happy, a male hippo, as the zoo's lone hippo. The zoo's hippo exhibit is currently closed, as is typical in the fall and winter months; Happy will be viewable again in spring.
Additionally, the zoo's construction of Adventure Africa — which includes a new indoor hippo space — is on track to be completed in fall of 2025, at which point the zoo said it will look into bringing another hippo to Milwaukee.
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