Zola the Wolverine (2013-2024)
Obituary
Zola, a Eurasian wolverine, passed away after a lymphoma diagnosis at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in September 2024.
Zola, an 11-year-old wolverine originally from Sweden, died in September 2024, just months after being transferred to the Columbus Zoo in Ohio from the Minnesota Zoo. Her passing is one of the latest in a series of recent deaths at the Columbus Zoo.
Enduring a life in captivity, Zola arrived in the US to be used in a breeding program with a male wolverine named Abisko at the Minnesota Zoo. She eventually gave birth to two kits in early 2023. After being transferred to the Columbus Zoo in the spring of 2024, she was paired with another male named Alvar for continued breeding. After a recent health decline, it was determined that Zola had untreatable lymphoma and was euthanized.
While the wolverine is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Redlist, their populations are decreasing due to habitat loss and hunting across parts of Scandinavia and the US. Animal agriculture plays a key role in the destruction of wolverine habitats.
World Animal Protection urges everyone who loves wolverines to avoid zoos and enjoy them in the wild or at accredited sanctuaries.
