Koala on Loan to Chicago Zoo Dies
A 3-year-old koala from the San Diego Zoo died Friday at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo, where he was on a long-term breeding loan.
Nacooma, a male Queensland koala, had been at Lincoln Park since October. A necropsy was to be performed Friday. Park officials believe the animal may have died of acute viral pneumonia. On Thursday, Nacooma did not eat much, but zookeepers thought it was because he had been moved to a different cubicle. But Friday morning, a zookeeper noticed that Nacooma showed signs of abnormal breathing and was drooling.
He was taken to Lincoln Park’s Hospital and given oxygen. He died Friday afternoon.
About half a dozen San Diego koalas have died of pneumonia since 1957.
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