Last good bye to Tom-Tom
Tom-Tom had started to slow down considerably, was struggling to eat and to walk and was thought to be suffering from age-related arthritis.
Joburg Zoo’s 42-year-old Shetland pony, Tom-Tom, had to be euthanised, due mainly to renal failure, on Thursday, 26 July, after his loving carers gathered to say their final goodbye.
A veterinarian was standing by, ready to humanely put him down. In recent weeks, Tom-Tom had started to slow down considerably, was struggling to eat and to walk and was thought to be suffering from age-related arthritis.
According to the City of Joburg’s Community Development councillor, Nonhlanhla Sifumba, Tom-Tom had lived way beyond the average lifespan of ponies, which is about 30 years. Councillor Sifumba also stated that the Joburg Zoo’s curators attempted to keep him warm and to pamper him before he was examined by the veterinarians. Once his blood test results were received on Monday, 23 July, confirming that any further treatment would be futile, the medical team resolved that he would be put down.
“It is with heavy hearts that we bid farewell to one of Joburg Zoo’s senior residents and a favourite attraction, Tom-Tom,” said Sifumba.
Tom-Tom arrived at the Joburg Zoo on 19 October 1977 as a donation and was estimated to be one year old at that time.
“Ponies and horses may generally live between 25 and 30 years. Living past the ripe old age of 40 is testimony to the high standards of animal husbandry at the Joburg Zoo, and we would like to extend our gratitude to all the keepers and curators, including the medical staff, who cared for Tom-Tom until the end”, stated the councillor.
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