Capybara and Tapir best friends euthanized on same day so neither would be left alone

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Man, I was really bummed to hear the news. A tapir and a capybara who were best buddies at a zoo in the UK both had to be put down on the same day. Apparently, the zoo staff felt it was the kindest thing to do for them, which is just really sad.

Newquay Zoo announced the passing of two of its animals: Johnson, a nine-year-old capybara, and Al, a twenty-year-old Brazilian tapir. Both were euthanized due to worsening health conditions.

Both animals were getting older and had been experiencing health issues that were lowering their quality of life.

Instead of potentially leaving one animal alone after the other died, the keepers decided to say goodbye to both of them at the same time.

Animal duo dies on the same day

Hey everyone, I’m really bummed to share some sad news from the zoo. We lost two of our awesome animal friends recently. Johnson, our sweet capybara who was nine years old, and Al, our twenty-year-old tapir, both passed away on February 20th. The vets and animal care team made the incredibly tough decision to help them peacefully, as they were getting really sick with old age. It’s always hard losing a friend, even one you see at the zoo!

We made the difficult but compassionate choice to euthanize them both at the same time, so neither would be alone after losing their friend.

The two animals shared a close bond and lived together in the zoo’s South American habitat, according to their keepers.

Capybaras and tapirs are both naturally relaxed and enjoy being around others, which probably led them to become close friends and stick together.

Al was a Brazilian tapir, and his species is considered vulnerable, meaning it faces a risk of becoming endangered globally.

At 20 years old, Al the tapir was quite old, as Brazilian tapirs usually live for about 25 to 30 years in zoos or under care. His friend Johnson, a capybara, was also getting up in years, since capybaras typically only live 8 to 10 years in captivity.

The zoo shared that the loss of these two animals is deeply saddening for everyone who cared for them. They were cherished parts of the zoo family, and both staff and visitors will miss them greatly. The zoo appreciates the public’s support and understanding during this tough time.

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2026-02-26 14:48