Akagi, a male Water Buffalo, died on August 7, 2013. The cause of death was an intra-abdominal tumor.

Akagi was Water Buffalo born at Tama Zoo on October 20, 1986. He had magnificent horns, a large body, always walked slowly, was gentle, and was a very friendly Water Buffalo.

On hot days, she would submerge her head in the pool, blowing bubbles through her nose, looking very comfortable. She would also often beg for us to scratch her head and behind her ears, to the point that she broke animal keeper 's homemade back-scratching brush in just two days. She was also very close to the female, Haruna, and they were always together.

During the summer school animal care experience for 3rd and 4th graders, the animals served as models when explaining how animals eat and the legs of even-toed ungulates. They were also popular animals, appearing in many entries in the "Children's Drawing Contest" held at Tama Zoo in the summer.

Because she was 26 years old, we had been giving her chopped grass and other things to avoid putting too much strain on her teeth, but her appetite had recently decreased. So we increased the amount of fresh grass, and her appetite began to return. On August 6th, the two of them were enjoying themselves in the pool together as usual, so it was truly a sudden event.

It is extremely unfortunate that this happened just as he was starting to regain his health and approaching the record for the oldest male Water Buffalo at 29 years old.

(August 8, 2013)