The death of zebra colt Olaf at Riverside Discovery Center occurred when the animal underwent a procedure to castrate him, according to Riverside Discovery Center executive director, Anne James.

“During anesthesia, the animal responded with an unanticipated reaction, resulting in his immediate death,” according to a press release issued by RDC.

There is always an element of risk, said James. She added that there are risks associated any time there is contact with a wild animal, although complications are uncommon.

“Every time a medical procedure is undertaken, whether on a human, your pets, domestic livestock, or zoo animals there is an associated risk,” said James.

The death of the young zebra was tragic and a “devastating loss,” for the staff, an emotional James said. The staff is all “just devastated” by the untimely death, she said.

“We have been working very hard for three years to establish a zebra herd here at the RDC and this is truly a loss,” James said. “We want to simulate their natural environment and to do so they need a herd,”

Olaf, born earlier this year, was the first zebra offspring born at the zoo.

“We are still intending to breed them,” James said. “Our hopes are that 12 months from now we have a baby zebra.”

The RDC is an accredited AZA facility, which requires all deaths to be reported, according to James.

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