Saying Farewell to ‘Poppy’

It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to ‘Poppy’, our beloved Eurasian wild boar.

Poppy joined us in 2013 and brought over a decade of joy to our zoo family. At 12 years old, she was considered geriatric for her species. She had been under the diligent care of our Animal Care, Health & Welfare team for ongoing age-related degenerative changes, including osteoarthritis in her spine and limbs, and significant tooth loss. In late May, an ultrasound examination by our Animal Health team revealed severe cystic changes in her uterus which were strongly suggestive of cancer. With her multiple health issues, and with surgery not being a viable option for her, the compassionate decision was made to euthanize her. Necropsy findings confirmed severe cystic changes in her uterus associated with a large invasive uterine tumour, in addition to her age-related degenerative changes.

Poppy’s passing has left 12-year-old female ‘Fern’ as the sole wild boar in the habitat. While wild boars are typically a social species and do well in groups, Fern’s own advanced age means introducing a new habitat mate could cause her undue stress, which could in turn could worsen her arthritic signs. With Fern’s welfare and wellbeing as our top priority, there are no plans to introduce a new wild boar at this time. To ensure Fern maintains a high quality of life in her golden years, her dedicated care team will increase their interactions with her, including introducing additional enrichment, and continue to monitor her very closely.

Poppy was a beloved member of our zoo family and she will be deeply missed. Please keep her dedicated caregivers in your thoughts during this difficult time.