Australia’s oldest hippopotamus has died at Adelaide Zoo on May 7. At 54, Brutus was the oldest hippo in Australia and one of the oldest hippos in captivity in the world.
“Having reached the ripe old age of 54 years, well beyond the average lifespan of a hippo, Brutus was unable to hold off the advance of time and our latest aged-animal assessment revealed that there was nothing else that could have been done to improve the quality of his life,” Zoos South Australia Chief Executive Elaine Bensted said on the zoo’s website.
Brutus was born at Taronga Zoo in 1965 to Billy and Mumsy. Ten years later, he moved to Adelaide Zoo, where he would stay for 45 years.
Brutus has been an ambassador for hippopotamuses and his legacy continues to educate the millions of visitors about their plight. His role in giving people enjoyment, learning, and love, has increased people’s awareness of the conservation of the species.
“Vale dear Brutus!” the tribute concluded.
“We know people from all over South Australia would ordinarily come into the zoo to pay their respects to Brutus, however in the current climate of social distancing, we’ve had to think of new ways for the public to farewell and celebrate our animals from afar.
“That’s why we’re asking the public to celebrate Brutus’ life at home by enjoying a slice or two of watermelon, one of his favourite foods, and posting images of this on social media tagging Adelaide Zoo on Facebook or Zoos SA on Instagram,” Bensted said
While Brutus and his partner Susie produced a total of 17 calves in their time, only two survived him—his granddaughter Brindabella and great-granddaughter Pansy.