Saying Goodbye to ‘Gloria’

On September 26, 2025, we said goodbye to our 13-year-old female spur wing lapwing ‘Gloria’.

The life expectancy for spur-winged lapwings under human care is 10-15 years. Gloria had developed a progressive neurological disease that did not respond to supportive treatments. Due to the rapid progression of the disease severely impacting her wellbeing, ACHW made the compassionate decision to euthanize her. A thorough pathology investigation did not identify a definitive structural cause for her neurological decline, indicating a molecular-level dysfunction was likely at play.

Gloria hatched at the Bronx Zoo/Wildlife Conservation Society in 2012 and joined us in June 2014. She was a beloved member of the African Rainforest Aviary and will be deeply missed.