No more koalas at the zoo as Patrick, 19, passes away

By MOOK Scenic Family Editorial Team

Patrick, the “koala grandpa” at Taipei Zoo, passed away at 17:59 on October 10 at the ripe old age of 19 due to multiple organ failure caused by aging. Koala “Patrick” arrived at Taipei Zoo in July 1999 at over two years of age from Australia’s Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, making him one of the first veteran koalas. He accompanied everyone for 17 years and had many fans who adored him. At the advanced age of 19, Patrick’s teeth were worn down, his nutrient absorption was low, and at age 17, his vision began to blur due to cataracts and lens luxation. As a result, keepers in recent years paid special attention to his health indicators such as weight, food intake, and defecation volume, and initiated a care protocol for senior koalas. In addition to carefully preparing his daily eucalyptus leaves, they later added formula milk and iron supplements to boost Patrick’s nutrition.

On October 8, keepers noticed that Patrick was resting in the same spot on his perch with little movement, his defecation had decreased significantly, and he showed low willingness to eat eucalyptus leaves on his own, so they switched to hand-feeding. However, Patrick’s feeding time was very short, stopping to rest after just a few minutes, and even when fresh leaves were right by his mouth, he showed little interest in reaching for them. On the same day, keepers began supplementing his nutrition with formula milk and laid soft mats on the ground to prevent Patrick from accidentally falling and getting injured. On October 9, Patrick weighed 7 kg, 300 grams less than the previous week, and appeared lethargic. After being weighed, he seemed a bit weak when trying to climb a tree. Around 11 p.m., after waking up on the perch, he swayed unsteadily, seemingly wanting to move but lacking the strength. He eventually slowly climbed down and lay resting on the soft mat on the ground.

On the morning of October 10, keepers fed Patrick formula milk. Initially, he was still willing to drink, but gradually his interest in the formula decreased, and he ate very little of the hand-fed leaves. Keepers and veterinarians stayed by his side the whole time, hoping to help ease his discomfort or administer necessary treatment in an emergency. Keepers regularly monitored his breathing rate. That afternoon at 13:10, Patrick’s respiration rate spiked to 120–130 breaths per minute (normally about 10–15 at rest), though it later eased. In the evening, at 17:59, Patrick’s heart stopped beating. He left everyone at the age of 19 years, 1 month, and 2 days.

The life of koala grandpa “Patrick” created and built many wonderful memories for the zoo’s koala keepers, all zoo staff, and the citizens. The zoo has also accumulated valuable care management data and experience through looking after him. His resilient life story always inspired the keepers who cared for him every day, and he remains the eternal “Old Pat” in everyone’s hearts.

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