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It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Ngozi, our beloved spotted hyena, on Monday, May 26. Ngozi moved to DZCA the day after her fifth birthday and was the last original resident of Benson Predator Ridge. Earlier this month, Ngozi celebrated her 26th birthday, making her the oldest spotted hyena in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Ngozi has been under successful long-term treatment for spondylosis, a degenerative spinal condition affecting the discs, ligaments, and joints. On Monday, our Animal Care Specialists observed a rapid decline in her hindleg mobility which would negatively impact her quality of life. Our dedicated Animal Care and Veterinary Medicine team made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize her to relieve her suffering. This decision did not come lightly and was made due to the progression of her condition and the significant effect it was having on her ability to navigate her habitat.
Ngozi passed peacefully on Monday afternoon, surrounded by those who loved and cared for her. A full postmortem examination will be performed by our Veterinary Pathologist to fully understand Ngozi’s condition and help support the scientific understanding of spotted hyenas around the world.
Remembering a Remarkable Resident
Like every loss we experience at the Zoo, saying goodbye is difficult and Ngozi’s passing has been especially hard on those who cared for her over the years. Members of our Carnivore Team have shared what working with Ngozi has meant to them:
“Ngozi was a legend, the kind people tell stories about long after they are gone. In her 21 years at Predator Ridge, she inspired and wowed millions of guests and helped positively change the perception of hyenas. After meeting her, we would often hear people say they didn’t realize hyenas were so cute, or so smart. In her time here she made an immeasurable impact on countless animal care staff, her loss is one that is felt across the country. She was our rock in the building for many years, always being able to rely on Ngozi for demonstrations, tours, to be the calming presence for new animals, and to help new animal care specialists gain confidence in themselves. One of the things I will miss the most is when Ngozi would be in the side yard by the zebras, in the morning she would see you come in and she would jump up, get excited and run as fast as she could inside to meet you at the window in the kitchen for a good morning snack. No one could resist giving Ngozi a few extra good morning snacks. Predator Ridge had never seen a day without Ngozi, and it will never be the same after her.” – Animal Care Specialist Jordan S.
“I only had the honor of taking care of Ngozi for a little over three years, but I will talk about her forever. She is such a powerful, strong-willed, smart, and hilarious girl. She was often hard to find sleeping in the sun of her favorite yard, but I think she liked it that way. And when you did see her, she was easily identified by her sweet ‘eyebrows.’ I can’t put into words how much you meant to everyone who passed through this building for the last 21 years, Ngozi. But I know you will be missed for a very long time. Thank you for sharing your life with us all these years.” – Animal Care Specialist Amelia J.
“It was an absolute honor to be one of Ngozi’s caretakers. She had so much spunk and always kept us on our toes. Her intelligence and strength never ceased to amaze me. Ngozi loved to play in the water and redecorate her exhibit with sticks and logs. She continued to learn new things in her older years and we could always count on her to be the star of our animal demonstrations. We are losing a true queen and she will be greatly missed.” – Animal Care Specialist Karli N.
“I loved working with Ngozi over the years—she never failed to make me smile when I looked at her sweet fuzzy face or with how quickly and cleverly she solved things. She did everything in her own unique way, unlike any other hyena, and that is what made her so special. Ngozi was incredibly playful with enrichment. It was always exciting to give her something new because she made it fun for us too. Her curiosity pushed us to be more creative, always looking for new ways to challenge and engage her. One memory that always makes me laugh is when we gave her a puzzle cube filled with food. Instead of carefully figuring out how each door opened, she used her strength and smarts to throw it across the room until a door opened and she could easily get the meat. It wasn’t the expected solution, but it was effective—and very Ngozi. Over her years at DZCA, Ngozi didn’t just bring us joy—she helped train many of us on how to work with spotted hyenas. She left a lasting impression, and it’s no surprise that former caretakers still check in on her. She was deeply loved and cared for.” – Assistant Curator of Carnivores Katelyn S.
Ngozi’s legacy lives on through her seven offspring and the countless human lives she touched along the way. She will be dearly missed by all those who had the pleasure of knowing and caring for her.
