The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium will be closed Saturday “out of respect for staff and recent animal losses.”
The zoo said it plans to reopen Sunday. Guests who had tickets for Saturday will be notified so they can make different arrangements.
The zoo has experienced several animal deaths during the past year, the most recent being the loss of a 2-year-old elephant calf named Tsuni.
Tsuni lived at the International Conservation Center in Somerset. The calf died this week after a battle with elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus, which has a high mortality rate and mainly affects younger elephants.
And in early February the zoo announced the death of a gorilla named Mrithi, who was the first silverback western lowland gorilla born at the zoo.
Last summer, a 9-year-old red panda named Kovu died after falling ill and a 6-year-old African lion named Kit died after a procedure to remove a blockage in its digestive system.
First Published: February 17, 2024, 3:03 a.m.
Updated: February 17, 2024, 3:10 a.m.