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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's Hogle Zoo announced the death of a 14-month-old African warthog named Walter on Wednesday afternoon.
Veterinarians at the zoo's L.S. Skaggs Animal Health Center brought Walter into the ICU after they discovered stones in his bladder and urethra, according to a written statement from zoo officials. The bladder stones were removed, but caretakers were not able to remove the stones in his urethra. The veterinarians continued daily treatments as his condition improved.
"For several days, Walter was eating on his own and doing well with the stone still in place," zoo officials said. "However, on Monday he took a turn for the worse and stopped eating."
On Tuesday, Walter developed abdominal swelling which vets diagnosed as urine leaking from the area surrounding the stone. The veterinary staff then decided that due to the trauma to the urethra and the inability to repair it to a "functional state" that Walter be humanely euthanized.
"It's very tough when one of your animals becomes sick," African Savanna lead keeper Melissa Farr said in the statement. "You pour even more love, attention, medical care and prayers for them. We will miss him very much and will continue to give our very best care to his brother, Swifty."
Warthogs typically live 15 years in the wild but can live up to 20 years in captivity, zoo officials said.
Staff members who performed the animal autopsy said it was difficult to find the stone, the statement states.
"It's not clear how or why Walter developed stones though diet could be a factor," Dr. Nancy Carpenter, director of animal health at Hogle Zoo, said in the statement.
Zoo nutrition manufacturers have changed the warthog's diet to a pellet specifically designed for urinary health in pig species to prevent a similar situation happening to Swifty.
Walter and Swifty arrived at Hogle Zoo this past June from the San Diego Zoo. The statement says the brothers ran around together, chasing and getting chased by the zebras and adding a bit of playful chaos to the zoo's Savanna exhibit. The zoo is working to bring a new companion for Swifty, as warthogs typically form bachelor herds in the wild.
