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Kai was humanely euthanized on Monday, July 13, following a rapid and unexpected decline in his health. Clinical evaluation, including blood testing, indicated kidney failure. Given the severity of his clinical findings, the Veterinary Medicine and Wildlife Care teams determined that his prognosis for recovery was poor despite available treatment options. We carefully evaluated every feasible treatment option before making this difficult decision, one that was made collectively, with Kai’s wellbeing at the center of every consideration.
A Little Boy Who Stole Our Hearts
Kai was born this May and made an impression from the very first day. Those big eyes, those two front teeth, and a personality that made everyone who met him fall in love instantly. Kai had a way of filling a room with joy from the moment he arrived.
He was named Kai, meaning “ocean” in Hawaiian, continuing the water-themed naming tradition of the rest of our Cape buffalo herd. It was a name that suited him perfectly.
“Kai arrived on my first day at DZCA. What a perfectly chaotic day and what an absolute joy he was. I loved making and receiving an all area morning call for buffalo shifting outside so we could all line up along the fence line and enjoy just watching his morning zoomies around the yard. He brought endless smiles and laughs and was the best way to start our day. He would often just end up staring at us probably wondering what on earth we were all looking at. He will leave a giant, oversized, toothy grin imprint on my heart.”
Animal Care Specialist Amy Tuchman
“What a gift it was to have known Kai and to be a part of his life. From the second he was born, he brought so much joy to the Hoofstock team, and that joy only grew as his personality bloomed. He captured hearts with his ridiculous teeth and left people smiling as he’d independently zoom around the yard with his tail high in the air and the rest of the herd running after him. As someone who has worked so closely with his mom Rain for the last 15 years, it is so endearing to watch her have her own babies and care so deeply for them. And Rain did just that- she was an attentive and protective mom to Kai until the end, and the loss I feel is just as much for her as it is for sweet little Kai. There are no number of days that would have made this loss feel any more profound had we had the chance to spend them with him; we are so grateful for the time we had and these memories will always be a blessing.”
Assistant Curator Jordan Bauer
“Kai was a beam of sunshine for our team – a shot of straight joy every morning. He was the first buffalo calf I’ve had the privilege of working with, and I was unprepared for how utterly I would fall in love with him in such a short time. The first time I got to see his ridiculous smile with his adult size teeth was a moment that I will never forget. Even one day when he was refusing to come inside, making everything more difficult, I could not stop smiling at his silly grinning underbite. I would have willingly given up my whole day to watch him stand there, refusing to follow directions. I will miss seeing him run outside with his tail always held high, stare at his reflection in the wallow, or play with his dad’s beard hair. He was part of a fantastic herd and will hopefully be followed by future siblings, but none will ever replace him. He was one of the most special gifts I’ve been blessed with in my career.”
Lead Animal Care Specialist Megan Grady
Looking Ahead
The remaining members of our Cape buffalo herd continue to be closely monitored and supported by their dedicated care team. There is no indication that Kai’s illness is connected to any recent animal losses at DZCA.
A Note of Gratitude
We recognize that this loss is felt deeply by the Animal Care Specialists and Veterinary Medicine professionals who cared for Kai every day, by the volunteers who loved him, and by the many guests who had the privilege of meeting him during his short time here.
Losses like these remind us why this work matters so deeply, and why the bonds formed between our people and the animals in our care are so meaningful.
