LIVING alone "will not" affect the day-to-day life of Colchester Zoo's last pygmy hippo, the zoo said.
Venus, 23, will be living alone in the attraction’s Pygmy Hippo Cove after her 34-year-old breeding partner Freddy died following a battle with illness on Friday.
Colchester Zoo said the duo were a “successful breeding pair” but mainly lived solitary lives at the Maldon Road park, as they would in the wild.
“Therefore, although Venus will miss Freddy during breeding season, her day-to-day life will not be affected by his absence,” reads a statement.
The news of Freddy’s death comes just more than a week after the zoo’s Amur tiger Anoushka died aged 19.
The statement said staff at the attraction are still mourning the death of the much-loved tiger.
It adds: “Saying goodbye to animals, especially after so many years at Colchester Zoo, is the most difficult part of our job.
“Pygmy Hippos can live to around 35 years of age, therefore we take comfort in knowing that Freddy reached such a good age for his species and lived a long, happy life at Colchester Zoo.”
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