Overview

• Irwin was born at Australia’s Taronga Zoo on February 25, 2008 and relocated to Duisburg in March 2013, making him one of Europe’s oldest male koalas at 17.
• In early June he exhibited pronounced lethargy, reduced appetite and significant weight loss, prompting further veterinary evaluation.
• Spring bloodwork had shown normal values, but follow-up analyses detected a fast-progressing leukemia that ruled out any chance of recovery.
• The zoo made the decision to euthanize him on June 7 and publicly announced his passing on June 12, with staff and visitors mourning the loss of their “character animal.”
• During his tenure at Duisburg, Irwin fathered nine offspring, playing a key role in the European koala conservation breeding program.