Salisbury–The Salisbury Zoo’s coati, Daisy, has died at age 14.
Daisy, who was nearing her 15th birthday, was humanely euthanized March 8 after a sudden decline in her health. Her quality of life was being closely monitored by her keepers and the veterinary team because of her age and mobility issues caused by intervertebral disc disease. Under human care, the average lifespan for a coati – a small carnivore related to the raccoon – is 14 years.
All animals at the Salisbury Zoo receive proactive routine welfare assessments, and reactive assessments are also made after large life changes.
“In the unfortunate event that an animal’s well-being seems to be rapidly declining, staff will start monitoring an animal’s quality of life, which involves more frequent assessments with a strong focus on the animal’s physical and mental health,” said Zookeeper Hannah Buchek.
Coatis can be found in the wild from Arizona to Argentina in a variety of habitats. Daisy had lived at the Salisbury Zoo since the spring of 2010.
Buchek described Daisy as a curious animal who enjoyed eating cooked sweet potato and chicken, and she always smelled any kind of strong scent.
“Daisy was an extremely relatable animal,” Buchek said. “She did not like waking up in the morning, and her favorite activity was relaxing in her hammock on a sunny summer day. She was always excited to participate in training that assisted with her veterinary care.”
Daisy was the Salisbury Zoo’s only coati. The Zoo plans to make upgrades and expansions to this exhibit to be able to accommodate future animals.