Manila Zoo's oldest resident, ‘Bertha’ the hippo, dies at 65

The Manila Zoo has lost its oldest inhabitant - a 65-year old hippopotamus called Bertha - GMA 7 news program "24 Oras Weekend" reported on Sunday.

Zoo director Albert De Chavez said that Bertha died in her pen Friday afternoon due to complications from old age.

Netizens meanwhile lamented Bertha's passing.

 

We lost another loyal friend last Friday. In a report from Manila Bulletin's Animal Scene magazine, Bertha, the world's oldest hippo, has died at the age of 61 in Manila Zoo, her home since its opening in July 1959. Bertha never failed to amaze generations of Manileño kids. With her eyes as beautiful as stars in the sky, she looked at the guests warmingly, like a friend who gives sweet greetings along with thousands of fellow animal friends inside the capital city's zoological and botanical garden. I'll miss you, dear Bertha. Thank you for making us Manileños smile. Rest now, my gentle giant. #RIPBertha #hippo #friend #hippopothamus #animal #death #zoo #ManilaZoo #Manila #Philippines #instagram #vsco #vscocam #vscoph #vscophile #vscopinas #vscophilippines #igers #igrsmanila #igersph #igersphilippines #igpinoy #igphilippines #igdaily

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Jul 9, 2017 at 12:55am PDT

 

...rest in peace, bertha the hippo ???? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #bertha #hippo #hippopotamus #rip #manilazoo #streetart #street #streetphotography #sprayart #urban #urbanart #urbanwalls #wall #wallporn #graffitiigers #art #artwork #streetarteverywhere #wallart #TagsForLikes #toptags #vsco #vscocam #vscomusic

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Jul 9, 2017 at 2:55am PDT

— Margaret Claire Layug/DVM, GMA News