WASHINGTON – A Snowy Owl died at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore last week, the second lost at the zoo in the last year.

Sophie, 4, had recurring medical issues and died during surgery on March 3, says Mike McClure, general curator at the Zoo.

“With intensive treatment and supportive care from animal and medical staff, she was able to recover from these problems in the past,” McClure said in a statement. “Unfortunately this time, after two weeks of intensive treatment, she did not respond. We are very sad to lose this struggle and she will be very missed by staff and guests.”

Sophie’s death comes on the heels of an earlier loss in November when a 13-year-old male Snowy owl Died of multiple medical issues. The pair were the Zoo’s only owl of that species.

“Snowy Owls are not easy to obtain,” explained McClure. “We are committed to this important species and will be making some exhibit changes before bringing them back.”

McClure says a necropsy, an animal autopsy, has been performed and the final results are expected back in few weeks. He says the Zoo expects to learn more from the results.

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