Ezo Sika Deer named "Kyu" has died.
news
June 28, 2026
We regret to inform you that "Kyu" (male, 16 years old), Ezo Sika Deer kept in the "Animals of Japan" exhibit in East Garden of Ueno Zoo, has passed away.
Queue had been closed for exhibitions since June 16, 2026.
The animal was kept indoors and the veterinarian and caregivers were working hard to treat and manage it, but unfortunately, its death was confirmed on the morning of Saturday, June 27th.
Name Q (Queue)
Visual male
Age 16
Date of visit: February 8, 2012
Date of death: June 27, 2026
Cause of death: Vertebral subluxation and degenerative spondylosis of the first and second thoracic vertebrae.
Treatment history to date
February 2025
The horse showed signs of instability in its hind legs, so we suspected a neurological disorder and conducted tests. Inflammation was found in the hoof joints of both forelimbs, leading us to suspect osteoarthritis.
May to July 2025
Although she temporarily had difficulty standing, through medication and rehabilitation training, she was able to stand and walk relatively stably from July onward, and maintained a stable condition until May 2026.
May 2026
The hind legs have become more unstable, and bleeding from the hindquarters due to sitting down or falling on its rear has become noticeable.
June 2026
On the 8th, a CT scan, X-rays, and blood tests were performed under anesthesia. It was confirmed that the first and second thoracic vertebrae were displaced (vertebral subluxation), and that these vertebrae were also significantly deformed (degenerative spondylosis). On the 12th, the dog became unable to stand and repeatedly fell when it tried to stand up, as it could not put strength into its hind legs. Medication allowed the dog to stand temporarily on the 13th, but the effect did not last, and on the 14th, the dog repeatedly fell, fracturing its right velvet horn and bleeding.
Since the 15th, it has become difficult for him to maintain a prone position, and he has been lying on his side more often. Consequently, the amount of food he eats has also decreased.
As he began lying down more often, pressure sores started to develop, but we treated the wounds while changing his position as needed. We also brought water and food to his mouth before and after changing his position, and continued to provide care to the best of our ability.
However, on June 26th, it did not eat anything all day, and its breathing gradually worsened.
June 27, 2026
This morning, animal keeper confirmed that the animal was dead inside its enclosure.
Future Plans
An autopsy was performed on June 27th to investigate the lesions and other conditions. The valuable information obtained from the autopsy will be used to improve future animal husbandry management and veterinary medicine in order to save more animals.
Please note that if you wish to offer flowers, we kindly ask that you enter the zoo and place them yourself on the table in front of the memorial. Ueno Zoo respectfully declines the offering of items or food to deceased animals, considering hygiene and the potential impact on wildlife. Thank you for your understanding.
As of June 28, 2026, Ueno Ueno Zoo does not keep Ezo Sika Deer deer.