The second oldest hippo in captivity in the U.S. died recently at the Honolulu Zoo. Just a few weeks shy of her 53rd birthday, Cleopatra, nicknamed Cleo, could no longer stand on her own and was euthanized by a zoo veterinarian.

Cleo lived about 18 years past the typical hippo’s life span of 35 years. Zoo officials said a longer lifespan is common for animals in captivity. Cleo’s body will be sent to a university lab for research and study.

Here is some video footage of Cleo from her 52nd birthday in November 2007: http://kgmb9.com/main/content/view/1936/110/ and some photos of her from her home zoo in Hawaii: http://www.honoluluzoo.org/cleo_birthday.htm.