Saskatoon zoo says popular elk had to be euthanized after injury from another elk

SASKATOON -- A popular animal at a Saskatoon zoo has been euthanized.

Winston, an elk at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo, was put down Tuesday.

Zoo manager Tim Sinclair-Smith says Winston was showing lameness and wasn't acting normally.

The animal was examined and then taken to Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan for a more in-depth examination.

Sinclair-Smith says it appears the injury was caused by a kick from another animal in the herd.

He says he and seven veterinarians then met and made the difficult decision to euthanize the elk.

"We are all heartbroken by this," Sinclair-Smith said.

"We simply did not want him to suffer any more. Winston was a very calm and well-mannered elk that won the hearts of all that cared for him. We will miss Winston and we know that all who knew him will feel the loss."