A familiar animal at the Topeka Zoo for nearly 20 years has died. The zoo announced yesterday, June 20th, that Chockey, the golden eagle, has passed. Chockey came to the zoo in 2004, and it is estimated that he was around 21 years old at that time. Golden eagles have a long life span in the wild, nearly 30 years and have been know to live up to 68 years in captivity. He was a mainstay at the zoo, and a favorite of the many staff and patrons.
Golden eagles are an important part of Topeka Zoo history. As eagle species in the United States were suffering from dramatic decline in the 60s and 70s, the Topeka Zoo was an essential part of their recovery. They became the first organization to hatch a captive-reared eagle chick and established a successful breed-and-release program. In 1972 the zoo received the Edward H. Bean Award, which recognizes a significant contribution or breakthrough in husbandry and breeding. Golden eagles have since rebounded in the wild, no longer requiring the essential breeding program we once spearheaded. No word on when or if Chockey will be replaced.
