Barnaby the koala doesn’t survive surgery
Barnaby, one of two koalas at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, died after veterinarians performed an emergency procedure to untwist an organ, the zoo announced Friday.
Animal care staff noticed Thursday that the 5-year-old koala was showing symptoms of torsion, which occurs when an organ — such as the stomach — or body part twists on itself and cuts off blood circulation. Torsion is known to occur in koalas, as well as dogs, according to the zoo. If not identified and treated quickly, the condition can be fatal.
Veterinarians performed emergency surgery Thursday evening, but Barnaby did not survive, according to zoo spokeswoman Patty Peters.
“The chances of catching it quickly, and getting surgery done quickly and being able to save an animal, it’s very difficult,” Peters said.
Barnaby was born at the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, South Carolina, and came to Columbus in February 2015.
Barnaby might not be terribly missed by the zoo’s other koala, 14-year-old Wruwallin, because koalas are not terribly social. But the zoo staff will certainly miss him, Peters said.
“The animal-care staff were very attached to him,” she said.
Assistant curator Katrina McCauley described Barnaby as being a “handsome guy with a feisty streak.” He loved exploring the outdoor habitat at the zoo, Peters said.