Woodland Park Zoo euthanized a 4-year-old, female ostrich last week.

The ostrich’s leg was critically injured during a diagnostic medical procedure to treat a chronic fungal infection. The bird was medically treated for pain with anti-inflammatory medications and monitored closely for an observation period of 24 hours. Necropsy findings confirmed a pelvic bone fracture.

Additionally, contributing causes for this bird’s overall poor condition included life-threatening complications associated with a systemic infection of the reproductive tract. The concurrent infection had compromised this bird’s overall state of health at the time of the leg injury.

The ostrich could no longer stand or care for herself without pain.

“She would not have been able to live a quality life with one functional leg, so we made the humane decision to euthanize her,” a Woodland Park Zoo employee said in a press release.

The skeleton of the ostrich has been donated to The Burke Museum for educational purposes through a research collaboration between Woodland Park Zoo and the University of Washington.

According to the press release, Woodland Park Zoo follows rigorous standards for animal health care and husbandry for its more than 1,000 animals.

“Our staff is very dedicated to ensuring the safety, health and well-being of each of our animals," mammal curator Martin Ramirez said in the press release. "It’s always difficult to lose an animal in our care.”

A male ostrich remains in the African Savanna exhibit, but the zoo has not made a decision yet on whether to seek another ostrich for the exhibit, according to the press release.