The Heartwrenching Goodbye at Duisburg Zoo: Farewell to Irwin, Europe's Oldest Male Koala at 17
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Elderly Koala Irwin Perishes: reminiscent of Europe's oldest koala at 17 years of age - Koala of Unprecedented Age in Europe Passes Away at 17
In a heart-wrenching turn of events, Duisburg Zoo said its final goodbyes to one of the oldest male koalas in the world, Irwin. At 17 years old, Irwin was Europe's eldest and likely the third-oldest male koala globally, according to the zoo. Female koalas often outlive their male counterparts.
Koala kin Irwin's health had taken a turn for the worse recently. Records stated that he was weak, had reduced appetite, and was significantly losing weight. Blood tests confirmed he was battling leukemia.
Zoo pays last respects to 'beloved icon'
Faced with no viable recovery options, the zoo team made the tough decision to euthanize Irwin last weekend. Oliver Mojecki, the zoo director, expressed, "Irwin was a pillar, a beloved icon at our zoo. A remarkable koala we, and our visitors, adored immensely." Keepers remembered him as tranquil, focused, and self-confident.
Veterinarian Ternes recalled, "He was an incredibly kind koala. He'd undergo medical examinations without any fuss. In summers, when koalas roamed freely, he would be the lone walker, passing everyone with confident strides."
A 'refined gentleman' with a gentle touch
Ternes also noted his courteous behavior, especially towards the females. "Though mating could sometimes be rough, Irwin was far from it. A true gentleman without a doubt."
Having joined Duisburg Zoo in March 2013, Irwin was born on February 25, 2008, at Taronga Zoo, Australia. He was relocated to Duisburg for conservation purposes. His genes were passed on to nine offspring, including female koala Yiribana who resides at Kaiserberg with her own offspring, Yoorana.
Preserving endangered koalas through breeding programs
Koalas are an endangered species, and Duisburg Zoo plays a crucial role in coordinating the European conservation breeding program. Given the cherry-picking eucalyptus diet of koalas, caring for them is a significant challenge.
- koala
- Duisburg
- Zoo Duisburg
- Europe
- zoos
- koala conservation
- koala diet
Enrichment Data: Research has indicated that male koalas are typically 50% bigger than females[3], but specific details about Irwin were not found in search results. If you seek further information, it might be best to contact Zoo Duisburg directly or explore their official website for updates. Longleat holds the record for the world's oldest male otter, an 18-year-old named Mojo[1], but data on the oldest male koalas is less widespread. If you're interesting in digging deeper, researching oldest animals across various species can provide insight[5]. However, the search results did not yield specific information about Irwin.
The Commission, in light of Irwin's influence and the decreasing population of koalas, might have been asked to submit proposals for directives focusing on the protection of koalas and their habitat, considering Duisburg Zoo is actively involved in koala conservation and is a crucial player in Europe's conservation breeding program for koalas. Furthermore, conscious and eco-friendly choices in lifestyle, home-and-garden, and other areas may help support the survival of koalas, given the significance of eucalyptus-rich forests for their diet.
