BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Zoo announced on Friday the death of its male spotted hyena, Grungie. He was 24 years old and just days away from his 25th birthday, according to the zoo's Facebook post.
The zoo's animal care and veterinary teams made the decision to euthanize Grungie due to declining health.
Grungie was born at the Buffalo Zoo on Oct. 25, 1999, and spent the majority of his life in the city, according to the post. He was sent to Wisconsin's Milwaukee County Zoo in 2005, where he stayed for over six years before coming back to the Buffalo Zoo in 2011. Grungie has been living in Buffalo for the last 13 years.
During his life, Grungie sired nine offspring with a few different females, including one with the Buffalo Zoo's female hyena, Taz. Grungie and Taz's offspring is still alive today at the Denver Zoo in Colorado.
The Buffalo Zoo said they will continue to work with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums on a plan for their hyenas in the coming months.
The full Facebook post by the Buffalo Zoo is attached below.
