A "cherished" Stanley crane at theJacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens has died at age 43, the oldest known member of her species in North America.
Olivia had age-related health challenges, including arthritis and declining kidney function, according to a zoo Facebook post.
"Our veterinary and animal care teams worked closely to support her comfort and well-being, but as her conditions progressed, the difficult decision was made to humanely euthanize her," the zoo said. "She was surrounded by her animal care team members … including some who had the privilege of working with her for nearly two decades."
The Stanley crane, also known as the blue or paradise crane, is the national bird of South Africa, home to 99% of the species' 12,000 to 23,000
population worldwide. Their median life expectancy in human care is about 13 years, according to theSmithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute.
They can be up to 3.5 feet long and have long dark wing feathers that trail to the ground behind them, short tails that are usually not visible and black legs and feet, the National Zoo said. Unlike most crane species, the heads of Stanley cranes do not have patches of scaly skin used in threat displays. Instead, their pale blue head feathers are "erect when excited or aggressive," the National Zoo said.
Online reports vary about the origins of the Stanley crane's name. Some maintain they were named after Edward, Smith-Stanley, the 13th Earl of Derby, who was president of the Zoological Society of London from 1831 to 1851, while others tie them to American journalist Henry Morton Stanley, known for locating missing explorer David Livingstone in 1871.
Olivia came to theJacksonville Zoo in 1996.
She had a "spirited personality, unmistakable sass and endless curiosity," the zoo said. "From vocalizing at golf carts that dared to drive too fast past her yard to running, jumping and keeping our team on their toes, Olivia had a way of making every day a little more interesting."
"She loved helping staff with leaf-raking duties, especially when it meant pulling leaves right back out of the containers, picking out the perfect sticks for her infamous stick pile, playing the occasional keyboard and watching bug and fish videos on YouTube," the zoo said.
"Olivia leaves behind countless memories, a whole lot of personality and a space that will never quite be the same. She will be deeply missed," the zoo said.
Beth Reese Cravey has been a reporter for The Florida Times-Union for 45 years, currently specializing in nonprofits and health. She can be reached at bcravey@jacksonville.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Beloved crane who played keyboards dies at Jacksonville Zoo at age 43
