National Zoo Puts Down Ailing Camille the Camel

One of the National Zoo’s two camels has been euthanized because of concerns that the animal’s quality of life had deteriorated, a zoo spokeswoman said.

Camille, a 17-year-old Bactrian camel, was put down in her stall shortly after daybreak as keepers, veterinarians and curators looked on, zoo spokeswoman Peper Long said.

Zoo records show that the camel had been unable to walk or stand at times and that the animal had been heavily medicated for at least two years.

The zoo has lost a number of its large animals to illness and other causes in recent years.