An ostrich kept at the Topeka Zoo died recently after reaching beyond her habitat’s fencing, grabbing and then swallowing a zoo staffer’s keys.

Karen, a five-year-old female, had been featured at the zoo in Kansas since March 2023.

The zoo consulted with experts nationwide on ways to lessen the effect of the keys on Karen’s health, whether through surgery or other means, but “these efforts were unsuccessful,” zoo officials posted on Facebook.

The zoo did not say whether any surgery or other medical treatments were attempted on Karen before her death. She was euthanized Thursday, Topeka Zoo Interim Director Fawn Moser told the Associated Press this week.

“We are devastated by the loss of Karen. She was not just an animal; she was a beloved member of our community. Our thoughts are with our dedicated animal care team, who formed deep bonds with Karen during her time with us,” Ms. Moser said in the Facebook post.

Zoo officials are continuing to investigate the incident and said they are taking unspecified “appropriate actions” towards the unnamed owner of the keys.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.