'Ambassadors for their species in the wild': Toronto Zoo loses 2 long-term residents

Toronto Zoo lost two of its long-term residents over the last week. Moja, a 24-year-old spotted hyena and Lily, an 11-year-old American moose. (Facebook/Toronto Zoo)

Toronto Zoo has bid goodbye to two of its long-term residents over the past week.

On Christmas Day, Moja, a 24-year-old spotted hyena, was put to sleep after an emergency procedure was performed when his health rapidly declined, the Zoo said in a Facebook post.

Moja lived out his days to the fullest, as typically the lifespan for a spotted hyena can range between 12 to 25 years.

• Never miss a moment: Download the CTV News app now

Meanwhile, Lily, an 11-year-old American moose, the last moose remaining at the Toronto Zoo, was a long-time inhabitant of the Canadian Domain and had been under observation since Dec. 23 due to a change in behaviour and physical ailments.

After a thorough examination of her work-up, the Zoo decided to humanely euthanize Lily.

"As we mark the end of our 50th anniversary year, it serves as a reminder of the ongoing commitment our team makes to the animals in our care, especially the geriatric ones, during their lifetimes with us," the Zoo said.

"It is a privilege to care for the animals that call the Toronto Zoo home, and we are committed to their overall wellbeing throughout their entire lives."

In the post, the Zoo said that losing long-term residents like Moja and Lily is difficult, but they have left their mark as "ambassadors for their species in the wild."