The Detroit Zoo shared sad news for animal lovers: Tula, the zoo’s 6-year-old camel, has died.
For more than a year, Tula had been working with the zoo’s veterinary, behavioral husbandry and animal care teams through a “degenerative ligament condition that affected her comfort and mobility,” according to a Facebook post by the Detroit Zoo on Wednesday, Nov. 26 saying she died on Monday, Nov. 24.
“Tula initially responded well to treatment, but in recent weeks her stability and comfort declined,” according to the post. “After careful evaluation and consideration of all options, the team made the difficult decision to compassionately euthanize her.”
Tula was born at the Detroit Zoo in 2019 and named after a river in Mongolia, one of the places in central Asia Bactrian camels are native to.
“Tula quickly became a beloved member of the Zoo family,” according to the Detroit Zoo. “Known for her bold personality and sharp intelligence, Tula was a favorite among her care team, who loved working with her — especially during care-based training sessions.”
Tula is the second Detroit Zoo Bactrian camel to be euthanized this year. In April, Rusty, who spent 16 years at the Detroit Zoo after arriving there from Brookfield Zoo Chicago in 2009, died.
Bactrian camels are known for their distinctive two humps that store fat for energy when food might be limited in the wild. The Detroit Zoo website says the camels grow to be 7 feet tall at the humps and more than 2,000 pounds. They have a median life expectancy of 17 years.
The zoo currently has two other Bactrian camels, Suren and Rusi, according to its website.
“Tula was deeply loved by those who cared for her and by many guests who visited her over the years,” according to the Detroit Zoo. “She will be profoundly missed. Please keep the animal care staff in your thoughts as they continue supporting the rest of the camel herd with the same dedication and compassion.”
Contact Natalie Davies at ndavies@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Zoo camel Tula dies at age 6 after battling ligament condition
Reporting by Natalie Davies, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
