Berlin Zoo mourns Kathi, its beloved 50-year-old hippo

Kathi, the well-known hippopotamus at Berlin Zoo, has died at the age of 50. Her passing marks the end of a long life, as she was one of the oldest mammals in the zoo's care. Staff have expressed deep sadness over the loss of an animal who had been part of the zoo for decades. Kathi was born on May 17, 1975, at the Silesian Zoological Park in Chorzów, Poland. She moved to Berlin Zoo in 1997 and spent 27 years there. During her time in Berlin, she gave birth to four calves, leaving a lasting legacy within the zoo's hippopotamus family.

In recent days, keepers noticed changes in Kathi's behaviour. She appeared weaker than usual and spent more time than normal resting in the water. Veterinarians had been closely monitoring her due to age-related arthritis, which affected her limbs. Despite their care, her condition declined, leading to her death. The exact cause of Kathi's death is still unknown. An investigation is now underway at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW). At 50, she had lived well beyond the typical lifespan for a river hippo, making her a remarkable resident of the zoo. With Kathi's passing, the zoo now has three remaining hippos: Bouli, aged 13, Nala, aged 14, and Willi, born in 2025.

Kathi's death leaves a significant gap at Berlin Zoo, where she was a long-standing and cherished animal. The zoo team has described her loss as deeply felt, reflecting the bond formed over her many years in Berlin. The results of the investigation into her death will provide further clarity in the coming weeks.