Edmonton Valley Zoo 'heartbroken' by death of 3-year-old Bactrian camel

Tuyaa the Bactrian camel can be seen at the Edmonton Valley Zoo in an undated photo posted on the zoo's Facebook. (Source: Facebook/Edmonton Valley Zoo)

The Edmonton Valley Zoo said goodbye to a member of its camel herd this week.

The zoo posted to Facebook Thursday, saying their three-year-old Bactrian camel Tuyaa had been euthanized. 

"Tuyaa - which translates to Ray of Light in Mongolian - was an incredibly bright and special soul that captured the hearts of all who worked with her," the zoo said in the post.

Bactrian camels, identifiable by their two humps, are native to northwest China and Mongolia.

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Tuyaa was born at the Edmonton Valley Zoo in July 2020.

"Her birth brought us so much joy during such a difficult time," zoo staff wrote on social media Thursday. "Tuyaa was so incredibly loved by all of her care team and she will be dearly missed.

"She was a special girl that has left a mark on our hearts forever."

Tuyaa the Bactrian camel, (right) with her mother Dolly at the Edmonton Valley Zoo. (Photo: Facebook/Edmonton Valley Zoo)Tuyaa was euthanized this week due to progressing complications from hyperparathyroidism.

"For the past two weeks, she was unable to stand on her own without assistance," the zoo said. "Despite ongoing coordinated lifts, physiotherapy efforts, pain control, and many supplementary treatments, Tuyaa was unable to regain her ability to stand and suffered increased complications from the inability to do so."

According to the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, Bactrian camels are critically endangered in the wild. Their life expectancy in captivity is around 17 years.