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By and large, 2021 had been trending in a decent direction from where we started in January.  Still, these last few days were a major kick-to-the-crotch.  First, we had the tragic death of Eko, the Malayan tiger from Naples Zoo, following a custodian's ill-advised attempt at petting the pretty kitty.  Then, with just hours to go before we escaped 2021, we learned that we lost Betty White.  

You may wonder why the death of a TV star, even one as beloved as Betty White, makes a splash on a zoo blog.  Well, it turns out that Betty White is one of the biggest celebrity zoo fans in the world and has made a huge contribution to our efforts to protect wildlife.  Many, many of the zoo folks I know from institutions around the country have great memories of her visiting their facilities and sharing special moments with their animals.  She will be missed by many.

Today, we start our journey into 2022.  I'm optimistic that better things lie ahead for us.

Columbus Zoo reacts to passing of Betty White