Ostrich Tragically Passes Away After Eating Zookeeper's Keys at Topeka Zoo

Eve Vawter
·2 min read
1

The Topeka Zoo in Kansas is mourning the loss of one of their beloved ostriches who snatched a zookeeper's keys and swallowed them.

The zoo announced the sad news on Friday with a heartbreaking Facebook post.

The post reads, in part, "The circumstances surrounding Karen's passing serve as a solemn reminder of the importance of vigilance and care in maintaining the safety of our animal inhabitants. In this instance, Karen reached beyond her exhibit fence to grab the keys of a staff member. She immediately swallowed the keys. Zoo staff consulted with experts across the country to undergo surgical and non-surgical efforts to minimize the impact of the keys. Unfortunately, these efforts were unsuccessful. The Topeka Zoo remains committed to ensuring the well-being of all our animals, implementing rigorous protocols to safeguard against such incidents in the future."

Related: Maryland Zoo Shares Tragic and Unexpected Passing of Giraffe Named Willow

Fawn Moser, Interim Director of the Topeka Zoo, was quoted as saying, "We are devastated by the loss of Karen. She was not just an animal; she was a beloved member of our community. Our thoughts are with our dedicated animal care team, who formed deep bonds with Karen during her time with us."

Karen was a favorite amongst zoo guests and the zoo said she was known for her water loving habits, like swimming in the pool, playing in the sprinkler, and, best of all, being our “dancing queen!”

Here's a sweet clip from February of 2023 when Karen first arrived at the zoo.

Here's another cute post of Karen enjoying playing in her water sprinkler in July of 2023.

Interesting Facts About Ostriches

Ostriches are the biggest birds in the world, and they can stand up to nine feet tall and weigh over 300 pounds. Ostriches are also the fastest running birds in the world! Scientists have seen ostriches run continuously at speeds of 30-37 mph and sprint up to 43 mph. They can cover ten feet in one single stride.

Ostriches mainly eat plants, including leafy greens, flowering plants, roots, grasses and succulents. They occasionally feed on fallen fruit or snack on mice, frogs and insects, such as grasshoppers and locusts.

Ostriches have a wide range of sound vocalizations, and these can include grunts, hisses, and booming noises. They are also capable of mimicking the sounds of other animals and can imitate predators to scare away potential threats to them.

It's just heartbreaking to think of how fast this accident happened and I'm sure no one could have expected Karen to swallow those keys.

If you are interested in visiting the Topeka Zoo, you can find zoo hours, directions, admission prices and information on special events and exhibits by visiting their website here. Our thoughts go out to the Topeka Zoo after the passing of their beloved ostrich, Karen.

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