ROYAL OAK (WWJ) - Detroit Zoo staff and visitors alike are mourning the loss of 11-year-old female gray wolf Wazi.
According to a post on the Zoo's Facebook page, Wazi suffered cardiac arrest during surgery to remove a mass in her chest that was discovered by the Zoo's veterinary team during a routine health exam.
The Zoo says a CAT scan performed to determine the size and location of the mass revealed that surgery was the only option.
"We are heartbroken," the Zoo wrote. "Wazi was intelligent, fearless, curious and sassy and was adored by our staff, volunteers and visitors. She will be missed by all."
Wazi was a nickname for Waziyata, which means "north" in Lakota, according to the Zoo. She and 9-year-old male gray wolf Kaskapahtew, which is Cree for "smoke," were born in Canada, arriving at the Detroit Zoo from the Minnesota Zoo in 2015.
Since the annoucement Monday evening, comments, photos and videos have been pouring in from people who loved to visit Wazi.
Meaghan Allor wrote: "Oh no!!! So very sad. Our son always seemed to have a connection with her, it breaks my heart to hear of her passing."
Kimberly White added: "So sad. Such a majestic animal. We loved her."
The public can visit Kaskapahtew, better known as "Kaska", in the Cotton Family Wolf Wilderness, a 2-acre $1.4 million naturalistic habitat in the southwest corner of the Zoo featureing grassy hills and meadows, native Michigan trees, a flowing stream and pond, dens and elevated rock outcroppings.
According to Big Run Wolf Ranch, an educational non-profit specializing in North American wildlife, wolves in the wild have an average life span of only six to eight years, while wolves have been known to live up to 16 years in captivity.
It's unclear if the Zoo will try to find a new companion for Kaska.
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