06/10/2026
Remembering Ava and Madison
It is with sadness that we share the passing of two of our Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, Ava and Madison, both of whom came to the BC Wildlife Park from the Edmonton Valley Zoo.
A few weeks ago, Ava passed away unexpectedly. Following her death, samples were submitted for diagnostic testing in an effort to determine the cause. While the results were inconclusive, findings suggested her passing was likely related to age-associated health issues.
More recently, our Animal Care team made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize Madison following the discovery of advanced dental disease that was significantly affecting her quality of life. At 22 years of age, Madison was one of the oldest Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep under human care.
In the wild, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep typically live between 9 and 14 years. Under professional human care, they generally live between 14 and 20 years. Both Ava and Madison exceeded the average life expectancy for their species and received dedicated care throughout their lives.
The loss of any animal is felt deeply by the staff and volunteers who care for them each day. Ava and Madison played an important role as ambassadors for their species, helping visitors learn about Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and the wildlife of British Columbia.
Their contributions to education and conservation will be remembered by the many visitors who had the opportunity to see and learn from them during their time at the BC
Wildlife Park.
