MULTIMEDIA NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                               
June 24, 2020

CONTACT:
San Diego Zoo Global
Public Relations
619-685-3291

WEBSITE:    
SanDiegoZoo.org

MULTIMEDIA NEWS RELEASE

A Fish Out of Water—but Only Temporarily: Koi at San Diego Zoo Undergoes Medical Procedure

While San Diego Zoo veterinarians are well known for providing potentially lifesaving medical procedures for cheetahs, orangutans and rhinos, among others, sometimes the patients are much smaller. Recently, a koi fish at the San Diego Zoo underwent a medical procedure, to remove masses from its body. While it generally isn’t safe for a fish to be out of water, this koi was in good hands, attended to by wildlife care specialists at the Zoo.

Wildlife care specialists noticed a skin mass on the approximately 35-year-old koi as the fish was swimming in its pond at the Zoo’s Terrace Garden. The fish was moved to a tank and transported to the veterinary hospital at the Zoo, where it was placed on a specially built table for fish exams. It was anesthetized and water was continuously run over its gills to allow it to breathe, while a Zoo veterinarian safely examined the fish and removed the masses.

“There were three skin masses removed from the koi,” said Dr. Ben Nevitt, senior veterinarian, San Diego Zoo. “The concern was that the masses could become ulcerated and affect deeper tissue. Upon examining the fish, the masses seemed to only affect the scales in the area and not underlying skin, so the mass removals were pretty straightforward.”

Dr. Nevitt said the masses were determined to be spindle cell sarcoma, which may return in those areas, but should not spread to the rest of the body. The koi was returned to its 18,500-gallon pond the same day as the medical procedure. It is currently eating normally, and the surgery sites have all healed well. The koi will be monitored closely for any recurrence of the masses.

Koi are ornamental varieties of domesticated common carp that originated in Japan. At the Zoo, they live in outdoor ponds with clean, oxygenated water and plenty of shade, as they are susceptible to sunburn. Koi are culturally significant, and represent love and friendship in Japan. Some koi have been known to live more than 200 years.

After being closed to guests since mid-March, the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park reopened to the public on Saturday, June 20th, ending the first major closure in the conservation organization’s 103-year history.

For more details on the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park reopening with new safety and health protocols —including yearly membership options and important information for guests planning their next visit—go to SanDiegoZoo.org/Reopen. To help maintain San Diego Zoo Global’s mission-based programs that save species around the world, go to SanDiegoZoo.org/Donate or SDZSafariPark.org/Donate. Those wishing to help via traditional mail can send a donation of any amount to San Diego Zoo Global, P.O. Box 120551, San Diego, CA 92112.           

Bringing species back from the brink of extinction is the goal of San Diego Zoo Global. As a leader in conservation, the work of San Diego Zoo Global includes on-site wildlife conservation efforts (representing both plants and animals) at the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, as well as international field programs on six continents. The work of these entities is made accessible to over 1 billion people annually, reaching 150 countries via social media, our websites and the San Diego Zoo Kids network, in children’s hospitals in 12 countries. The work of San Diego Zoo Global is made possible with support from our incredible donors committed to saving species from the brink of extinction.

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