(Photo : Seoul Children's Grand Park Zoo)
Sero (right) and his late partner, Coco (left), who died on Oct. 16, 2023 due to complications relating to her pregnancy.
Sero, the zebra known for running away from a zoo in Seoul due to his distress after losing both his parents in the span of two years, has been dealt with another heartbreak.
The Seoul Children's Grand Park Zoo announced this week that his partner, 17-month-old Coco, and their unborn offspring, died due to complications related to her pregnancy.
The Korea Herald detailed that Coco began showing signs of an abdominal ailment on October 11, when she had difficulty standing up. Four days later (October 15), she was taken to an equine specialist for surgery but succumbed to her condition the next day (October 16).
A biopsy report indicated that she died from a colic bowel obstruction, a common issue in pregnant horses.
Loyal Mates
A zoo official told reporters that Coco was notably distressed as Sero occasionally cried out in search of his departed mate, as the pair shared a tight bond.
With Coco gone, there are speculations about Sero's future, with zoo officials confirming on Wednesday (October 25) that they are set to introduce a new companion for him. An undisclosed zoo already confirmed this week that they were in talks of introducing the young male zebra to a female seven years her senior.
Zebras naturally live in harems consisting of one male and multiple females, typically averaging around seven members in total. However, it remains to be seen if Sero, already having faced multiple hardships throughout his short life, would adapt to the next chapter of his life.
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