There won’t be any more moose at the BC Wildlife Park after the passing of Cherry this past Saturday.

The nine-year-old moose died of natural causes after battling several health issues.

General Manager Glenn Grant says it is hard for his staff to get the diet for moose just right.

“The dietary concerns of a moose in human care are difficult at best,” he said. “We do have a leaf diet and a little bit of grain mixture that is specifically designed for moose and ungulates. It’s really difficult to try and simulate the natural nutrients that she would get in the wild.”

Grant says that unlike most animals who tend to live longer in captivity, that is not always the case for moose.

“It’s the veterinary care and diet that extends their lifespan, but most of the animals that we have here, their diet is pretty accessible,” he told Radio NL, noting that bears at the park tend to live ten years longer in their care. “A moose is completely different.”

“It’s got a different digestive tract, it has different needs from different species of tree and brows. If we can’t do it extremely well, we don’t want to do it at all. And if it’s not going to help the animal, then it’s best for us not to have the animal in the collection.”

He thinks it’s best to let the facilities that can care for some animals properly to do so, like the Greater Vancouver Zoo where he says Cherry’s sibling lives.

(Photo via BC Wildlife Park)