Joburg Zoo curators say their final goodbye to Tom-Tom
JOHANNESBURG – The Johannesburg Zoo recently put their 42-year-old Shetland pony to sleep.
Curators at the Johannesburg Zoo gathered around Tom-Tom, the 42-year-old Shetland pony as he was humanely put to rest.
He had lived way beyond the average lifespan of ponies which is about 30 years.
The procedure was undertaken on 26 July due to Tom-Tom suffering renal failure. In recent weeks, Tom-Tom had started to slow down considerably, was struggling to eat and to walk and it was thought to be due to age-related arthritis.
The MMC for Community Development in the City of Joburg, councillor Nonhlanhla Sifumba said, “It is with a heavy heart that we bid farewell to one of Joburg Zoo’s senior residents and a favourite attraction, Tom-Tom.”
The Joburg Zoo’s curators attempted to keep him warm and to pamper him before he was examined by the veterinarians. Once the blood tests were received on 23 July that confirmed that any further treatment would be futile, it was resolved among the medical team that he would be put down.
Tom-Tom arrived at the Joburg Zoo on 19 October 1977 after being donated and was estimated to be one year old at the time. Although he was often thought of as being pensive, he was one of the stalwarts that brought much calm to the Delta Section of the zoo by providing steady companionship to Jody (another Shetland pony) and Crown (a Shire horse) in the same enclosure.
Shetland ponies are generally considered intelligent and friendly and are popular with young children learning to ride, as they can be easily mounted and have a gentle personality. They are also used as guide animals and in therapeutic programmes for the mentally or physically challenged.
“Ponies and horses may generally live to between 25 and 30 years,” added Sifumba.
“Living past the ripe age of 40 is a testimony to the high standards of animal husbandry at the Joburg Zoo, and we would like to extend our gratitude to all the keepers and curators, including the medical staff, who cared for Tom-Tom until the end.”
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Also check out:
https://www.citizen.co.za/rosebank-killarney-gazette/233366/tweets-visit-joburg-zoo-check-spectacular-elephants-videos/
