El Paso Zoo considers changes to exhibit after 3rd gazelle death this year.

The El Paso Zoo is considering changing an exhibit after the third death of a Thomson gazelle in the last six months.

All three gazelles were housed in a multi-species exhibit with giraffes and kudu in the Upper Savannah exhibit in the zoo’s Africa section.

Zoo officials say that although the three gazelles died under different circumstances, the gazelle deaths resulted from injuries while animals were moved in and out of their barns.

The most recent gazelle death occurred on December 16, 2015.

“Animal welfare is the top priority of all staff members of the El Paso Zoo,” said Zoo Director Steve Marshall. “While we have not determined the exact causes of these situations, we have determined that they have occurred when moving the animals on and off exhibit.”

Although the deaths were not directly related, they may demonstrate a pattern, Marshall said.

Zoo staff added in a news release that they believe these incidents may be caused by the changing dynamic of the growing size of the herd or possibly due to gazelles that are young and inexperienced in the exhibit.

“We have had gazelles on this exhibit since 2010 and before July 2015, this hadn’t previously been an issue,” Marshall said. “Animal care staff have made changes to protocol in an attempt prevent further injuries. As we continue to make animal welfare a top priority, we may have to make the decision to transfer the gazelles out of our Zoo and bring in a less nervous antelope species.”

Three Thomson’s gazelles and one greater kudu were born at the zoo between Jan. 20 and Feb. 8 this year.

Animal Deaths At El Paso Zoo In 2015

2015 El Paso Zoo deaths

Dec. 16, Thomson gazelle. Cause of death unknown
Date and cause unknown, Thomson gazelle
Date and cause unknown, Thomson gazelle
Sept. 23, 8-month-old Greater kudu Mijo dies at El Paso Zoo during vasectomy
June 25, Claudette, 35-year-old lion-tailed macaque euthanized. Had several age-related problems, including cataracts and arthritis.
June 18, Meerkat Babu, which lived at the El Paso Zoo since 2010, died. Babu, 11, was euthanized after being geriatric and chronic spinal issues.
April 17, Tango a 32-year-old lion-tailed macaque was euthanized. Tango had a history of severe arthritis but no other serious medical problems. He was observed acting normal the day before. Tango was found on the ground and unconscious with a head wound by keepers on morning of April 17. Staff believes that he fell, but is unaware of what caused the fall and whether he was unconscious due to a sudden medical problem before he fell. Even with arthritis, macaques are excellent climbers and rarely fall.