ST. LOUIS – The Saint Louis Zoo is mourning the loss of Othello, a beloved full-sized tortoise who was at least 100 years old at the time of his passing.
Zoo officials say Othello was humanely euthanized on Tuesday due to declining health caused by a gastrointestinal issue.
While the zoo was unsure of his exact age, Othello was believed to be at least 100 years old and one of the oldest animals at the zoo. He was a centenarian Aldabra giant tortoise.
Othello and Ray, another Aldabra giant tortoise still living at the Zoo, arrived in the U.S. as mature adults in 1938. Both were brought to the Saint Louis Zoo from another accredited zoo in 2004.
“Othello was beloved by Zoo guests and employees during the 20 years since his arrival. He had a warm, engaging nature and regularly sought out interactions with people. Othello was a guest favorite during our public tortoise tours, often delighting visitors by eagerly accepting carrots—one of his favorite treats. He was also known to recognize his keepers, frequently seeking them out for attention. Keepers always readily reciprocated and loved spending time with him, especially when he stretched out his neck for gentle scratches,” said the zoo via Facebook.
Othello was also an important ambassador for his species, which is considered vulnerable to extinction and is among the last remaining species of giant tortoises on Earth.