COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium announced the death of its 4-year-old Tasmanian devil named Mustard. 

What You Need To Know

  • Mustard's care team discovered he was severely anemic, and while there are options to treat the condition, officials deemed it not safe

  • Mustard came to the zoo in 2019 with two other Tasmanian devils, Thyme and Sprout

  • Mustard loved to sleep with Thyme, and the care team said they are giving Thyme extra care after Mustard's passing

The zoo said he was euthanized Sept. 4 after his care team found that he was severely anemic. Officials said they noticed the signs when he was more quiet than usual and unsteady on his feet. 

Officials said normally, treatment for the condition would involve a blood transfusion or time in the ICU, but officials deemed those options were unsafe for Mustard. 

"Mustard was always the first to interact with the enrichment given for the day and wanted to make sure if food was hidden inside the enrichment item, he would be the first to find it," the zoo wrote in a Facebook post. 

Mustard came to the zoo in 2019 with two other Tasmanian devils, Sprout and Thyme. Sprout passed away in July from an unknown health condition. 

Mustard was known to ear up cardboard boxes and other paper products, and then place the pieces in his nest box. He loved to sleep next to Thyme, and Thyme's care team said they are making sure he is receiving extra care in the wake of Mustard's passing. 

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