World's oldest hippo dies in Kiev Zoo

Bresta, believed to be the world's oldest hippopotamus, has died at the age of 58 in Kiev Zoo, Ukrainian media reported Tuesday, citing a statement of the zoo.

"Our Bresta, the world's oldest hippo, has passed away in her sleep. She has been giving us her love and warmness throughout a record-breaking 58 years," the statement said.

The zoo has not commented on the cause of the death, but some media reports suggested that the animal's health has deteriorated in the recent months as she suffered osteoarthritis, attributed to her advanced age.

Following the announcement, many Kiev residents mourned in social media the death of Bresta, who was one of the main attractions and the living symbol of the Kiev Zoo.

Bresta was born in Munich Zoo in 1958 and came to Kiev in 1973 as a young hippo, which charmed the visitors of the zoo with her kindness and friendliness.

When in 2013 Bresta was awarded a title of Ukraine's oldest hippo, her keepers said that the animal's secret to longevity is a special healthy diet -- 50 kilograms of grass or hay and 7 kilograms of fruits and vegetables per day.

In the wild, the medium life span for hippopotamus is 35 years, while in the captivity they usually live no more than 50 years. Endit