The deaths of two other animal residents at Belfast Zoo were also confirmed
Former Belfast Zoo elephant Dhunja who has passed away at Royal Burger’s Zoo in Arnhem
Belfast Zoo have paid tribute to their former Asian elephant Dhunja, after it was confirmed the animal passed away at Royal Burgers’ Zoo.
It comes as the zoo also announced the deaths of two of their other animal residents at the start of the year – Qays a Barbary lion and Malcolm a Visayan warty pig.
Dhunja was moved to the Arnhem zoo in the Netherlands in the summer last year.
However it has been confirmed the elephant has now passed away at the age of 51-years-old.
The Belfast facility said they have been left “deeply saddened by the death”.
“Dhjuna reached a grand old age of 51 years. Due to her age, her health had been slowly deteriorating over several years, but in recent weeks, Burgers’ Zoo’s animal care team saw a rapid decline in her quality of life,” the zoo said in a social media post.
“Dhjuna received specialist palliative care in her final weeks, however, the extremely difficult decision was made to put Dhjuna to sleep on 8 January 2025.”
“Belfast Zoo is also sad to announce the recent passing of two of our other older residents, Qays, the Barbary lion, and Malcolm, the Visayan warty pig.
“Both animals experienced health complications in recent years due to their age, but their health declined rapidly over a short period of time and the difficult decision was made to put both animals to sleep on 5 January 2025.”
Zoo manager Alyn Cairns added: “This is a very difficult time for the whole zoo team and we are devastated by these recent losses. Dhjuna was very much-loved member of the zoo family and, even though she recently moved to a new home, Dhjuna still held a special place in the hearts of all the staff and many generations of Belfast Zoo visitors over the years.
“Likewise, Qays and Malcolm will be missed by zoo staff and visitors. It is devastating to watch any animal that we care for deteriorate so quickly and to have to make such a difficult decision is heartbreaking.”