Karen, a 5-year-old female ostrich at the Topeka Zoo, recently died after grabbing and swallowing a staff member’s keys, the zoo announced Friday.
Karen had lived in the zoo’s Giraffe & Friends exhibit since March 2023, the zoo said in a news release sent out by Jennifer Goetz, strategy and creative director for Compass Marketing & Advertising Partners.
The staff member’s name wasn’t being made public.
“In light of this tragic event, the Topeka Zoo conducted a thorough investigation and is taking appropriate actions regarding the team member involved,” Friday’s news release said. “Additionally, the zoo will be reviewing and enhancing its protocols to further strengthen the safety measures in place for all its residents.”
The circumstances surrounding Karen’s death serve as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and care in maintaining the safety of the animals that live at the zoo, said Friday’s news release.
“In this instance, Karen reached beyond her exhibit fence to grab the keys of a staff member,” the news release said. “She immediately swallowed the keys.”
Read more here from USA Today.
