Brookfield Hippo Dies

By Margaret Lyons in News on Dec 21, 2007 10:52PM

Alas, Hansel, the 53-year-old male hippo at the Brookfield Zoo was euthanized yesterday after his caretakers decided his arthritis was so severe that it was ruining his quality of life. Hansel had been at the zoo for 51 years, after moving here with his sidekick Gretel--really--from Denmark. The two had six hippo kids, and one of their daughters, 39-year-old Wicket, is still at Brookfield.

Now that Hansel is no longer hungry hungry, his skull has been removed and sent off to the Field Museum, and the rest of his body will be cremated.

Hansel. He was so hot right then. Hansel. [Trib, S-T one, Daily Herald, S-T two.]