Zoo officials said Zuri had been undergoing frequent, hands-on hoof care for laminitis — a chronic inflammatory condition of the tissue that connects hooves to bone — since arriving at Reid Park in 2023. Because Grevy’s zebras require hoof work under general anesthesia, Zuri was anesthetized five times for the treatment, and had initially done well under anesthesia. However, as she was waking up from the most recent procedure she fractured a large bone in her rear leg. “Due to the type and location of the fracture it would not have been possible to surgically repair,” said Dr. Roth, Reid Park Zoo’s chief veterinarian.
Zoo leadership said the veterinary and animal care teams made the decision to euthanize Zuri based on the poor prognosis and the severity of the injury.