AKRON, Ohio — The Akron Zoo has announced the death of its male Speke's gazelle, named "Gondar."
Zoo officials say Gondar's health started to decline in the past week. A procedure by a veterinarian revealed that Gondar had a mass on his lung, which led to the decision to humanely euthanize him.
Gondar, who was born in 2017 at the St. Louis Zoo, has been in Akron since 2019. He arrived for the opening of Pride of Africa. Zoo officials say Gondar fathered three gazelle fawns in the time he lived in Akron.
In 2021, Akron Zoo officials say Gondar severely fractured his front leg, a serious injury for gazelles who have a lot of weight and pressure placed on a small area of their feet. The vet team at the Akron Zoo, along with a surgeon, Dr. Mark Daye, from Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital, conducted a surgery to place an external ring fixator on the leg to give him the best chance of survival.
"After months of treatment, Gondar made a full recovery. Despite the permanent limp and bowed ankle, he was able to live full life, running and jumping throughout the habitat," the Akron Zoo added.
According to the Akron Zoo, Speke’s gazelles are listed as endangered by IUCN Red List (International Union for Conservation of Nature) due to habitat loss, hunting, illegal trade and lack of government protection. The species is the smallest species of gazelle and native to northern Somalia.
“Gondar has made a significant impact on my career in animal care,” said Lauren McKenna, animal care manager for the hoofstock/primate team at the Akron Zoo. “Through the amazing care and dedication of my team and our vet staff, we were able to help him pull through a life-threatening injury and give him three additional years of life. Gondar taught us all to enjoy the little things and not to take life for granted.”