At Newquay Zoo in Cornwall, a tapir and a capybara known for their deep companionship were put to sleep on the same day so neither would be left alone.

The zoo said both animals were suffering from age-related health decline and that the decision followed thorough veterinary assessment and consultation, Newquay Zoo reports.

Johnson was a nine-year-old capybara. Al was a 20-year-old Brazilian tapir.

Visitors and staff had come to know them as fixtures in the zoo’s South American enclosure, reports The Independent.

Bond Beyond Species

The animals shared their enclosure for years. Capybaras and tapirs are both calm, social species, which keepers said helped foster their unusual friendship, according to the zoo’s announcement.

Johnson arrived from Chester Zoo in 2017 and quickly became a favorite with visitors and staff for his gentle nature. Al had been at Newquay since 2014 after arriving from Gdańsk Zoo in Poland.

Both animals continued to live closely together year after year, zoo officials noted.

Zoo keepers said recent months had brought increasing health challenges for both. Their declining quality of life made care difficult.

Officials determined euthanasia was the most humane option for both animals at the same time, Newquay Zoo reports.

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A tapir and a capybara shared an enclosure in Cornwall for years.

Reaction from Visitors and Community

News of their deaths spread on social media, with fans expressing sadness over the loss. Many shared memories and photos from visits to see the pair, according to BBC Cornwall’s social post.

Commenters described how the animals had touched their visits to the zoo. Some wrote that watching the duo interact was a highlight of their day. Their bond, unusual in a zoo setting, drew attention and affection from locals and tourists alike.

End of an Era at the South American Enclosure

Keepers and visitors now face the enclosure without two of its most recognizable members.

The zoo said the loss is deeply felt by staff who cared for them daily, according to an official statement.

Newquay Zoo also said it will review the South American enclosure’s future plans as part of its wider development work.

The family-friendly Cornish attraction houses nearly 1,000 animals and was recently acquired by a Dutch leisure group, The Independent reports.