Como Zoo's Harriet the flamingo dies at 47

Last update: April 3, 2009 - 7:54 PM

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Harriet, a Caribbean flamingo that welcomed visitors to the Como Park Zoo for nearly 40 years, has died of cancer. She was 47.

The bird had been battling the disease since 1998 and had undergone radiation treatment since then, too. She lost two toes to cancer.

Her health had been deteriorating in recent weeks. She had difficulty resting on one leg, which is a comfortable position for flamingoes. Her appetite diminished, and she lost weight.

To end her suffering, zoo officials had Harriet euthanized on March 26, said spokesman Matt Reinartz. "Her quality of life was not good anymore," he said.

The zoo has featured flamingoes since the 1960s and, in 2008, hatched a baby flamingo for the first time. Flamingoes generally live 20 to 30 years, but 50 years is not unusual.

Eighteen flamingoes, five Caribbean and 13 Chilean, remain at the zoo.

A necropsy, the animal equivalent of an autopsy, will be done, and results are expected next week.

"She lived a good long life with the help of the zookeepers out here," Reinartz said.

CHRIS HAVENS