BALTIMORE (WBFF) — The Maryland Zoo announced Thursday the loss of one of its cherished animals: Hodor, a male common warthog, who was euthanized after a recent diagnosis of untreatable liver disease.
According to zoo officials, Hodor had been in good health until recently, when keepers noticed subtle changes in his appetite.
Bloodwork revealed signs of liver dysfunction, and a more extensive exam under anesthesia confirmed the severity of the disease.
ALSO READ | Maryland Zoo breaks ground on new red panda habitat
Veterinarians and animal care staff made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize him.
“Hodor will be deeply missed,” said Erin Cantwell Grimm, Mammal Curator at the Maryland Zoo, via press release. “He was reserved when he arrived, so we spent a lot of time working with him to make him feel comfortable and participate in his own wellbeing care.”
Hodor developed a strong bond with his caretakers, which enabled them to train him to voluntarily participate in health checks — including the blood draw that ultimately led to the discovery of his condition.
He arrived at the zoo in 2017 at just two-years-old, intended to be a companion for KeeWee, a 10-year-old female warthog born at the facility.
ALSO READ | Hometown Hotspot: Chilling out with the animals at the Maryland Zoo
Although the pair lived together for the past eight years, keepers noted that they generally preferred separate areas of their shared habitat.
“We’ll watch [KeeWee] closely over the next few weeks to see how she adapts to her new situation,” Cantwell Grimm added.
The zoo did not immediately announce any plans for adding another warthog to the habitat.
Local Story
