Columbus Zoo announces death of 5-year-old Tasmanian devil named Thyme
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium announced the death of the last member of its original family of Tasmanian devils.
Thyme came to the Columbus Zoo from Tasmania, an island state located south of Australia, in 2019 with her siblings Sprout and Mustard. Both Sprout and Mustard died in 2022.
In a social media post announcing her passing, the zoo said Thyme, who was 5 years old, was a "gentle soul with a fiery spirit" that captured the hearts of all those she encountered.
"From her early days as a fierce, fiery baby to her later years as a trusting and loving adult, Thyme taught us invaluable lessons about her species and left and indelible mark on our hearts," the zoo said.
Thyme would often be found basking in sunlight "eyes closed in pure bliss" or playfully exploring her surroundings with boundless energy and curiosity.
The zoo said Thyme liked to drag paper into her nest box and snuggle in a cozy lawn bag, enjoying the simpler things.
Tasmanian devils have an average life expectancy of five or six years, the zoo said, and Thyme was almost six at the time of her death.
The zoo did not provide any information on Thyme's cause of death, saying pathology reports are still pending. Thyme's veterinary team said she appeared to be in some discomfort and did not respond to treatment, leading her care team to believe her ailments were likely related to her age.
While the zoo does not currently have any Tasmanian devils, there are hopes to bring more to the zoo in the near future. The zoo said one of the facility's groups of small-clawed otters will occupy the Tasmanian devil exhibit in the interim.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Zoo announces death of Thyme, 5-year-old Tasmanian devil
