By / MOOK Scenic Spots Family Editorial Team
Taipei Zoo’s koala grandpa “Patrick” passed away at the age of 19 on the evening of October 10 at 17:59 due to multiple organ failure caused by aging. The koala “Patrick” came to Taipei Zoo from Australia’s Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary at over two years old on July 31, 1999, as 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” had worn teeth, poor nutrient absorption, and his vision had started to blur at the age of 17 due to cataracts and lens luxation. Therefore, zookeepers in recent years paid special attention to health indicators such as his weight, food intake, and defecation volume, and initiated a care mechanism for elderly koalas. In addition to carefully preparing his daily eucalyptus leaves, they later also added milk replacer and iron supplements to Patrick’s nutrition.
Koala Patrick passed away at the age of 19. (Photo source / Taipei Zoo)
On October 8, keepers noticed that “Patrick” was resting in the same spot on his perch with little movement, his defecation had significantly decreased, and he showed little willingness to eat eucalyptus leaves on his own. Therefore, they began hand-feeding him. But “Patrick” only ate for a short time before stopping to rest every few minutes, and even when fresh leaves were right by his mouth, he rarely reached out to grab them. On the same day, keepers started supplementing his nutrition with milk replacer and placed soft padding on the ground to prevent him from falling and getting injured. On October 9, “Patrick” weighed 7 kilograms, 300 grams less than the previous week. He appeared lethargic and seemed weak when trying to climb a tree after being weighed. In the evening after waking up around 11 PM, he swayed unsteadily on his perch, seemingly wanting to move but lacking the strength. He eventually slowly climbed down and lay resting on the soft mat on the ground.
Koala Patrick had become a grandfather. (Photo source / Taipei Zoo)
On the morning of October 10, keepers fed “Patrick” milk replacer. Initially, he still ate some, but gradually his willingness to drink the formula decreased, and he ate very little of the hand-fed leaves. Keepers and veterinarians stayed by his side, hoping to help alleviate his discomfort or provide necessary treatment in an emergency. Keepers regularly monitored his breathing rate. Later that afternoon at 13:10, “Patrick’s” breathing rate once rose to 120–130 breaths per minute (normally about 10–15 times per minute while resting), though it gradually slowed down afterward. In the evening, “Patrick”’s heart stopped beating at 17:59, and he passed away at the age of 19 years, 1 month, and 2 days.
The life of koala grandpa “Patrick” created and accumulated many beautiful memories for the koala keepers, all zoo staff, and the citizens. The zoo has also accumulated valuable care and management data and experience through looking after him. His resilient life story always inspired the keepers who cared for him every day, and he will forever be the beloved “Old Patrick” in their hearts.