Elgin’s Lords Park Zoo has lost one of its three beloved bison.

Drew’s health had been declining for about six months. Last week, when she fell and couldn’t get up on her own, a veterinary exam was conducted and a decision made that it was time to humanely euthanize the 24-year-old animal, a post on the city of Elgin’s Facebook post said.

“This was the natural progression of the aging process and how things happen,” said Marge Rowe, treasurer of Friends of Lords Park Zoo.

Zoo-kept bison can live as long as 25 years, according to the National Park Service.

“Twenty-four is a darned good lifespan for a bison,” said Sharry Lynn Blazier, who oversees the Elgin Public Museum. The museum and zoo collaborate on a “Meet the Bison” program.

Drew and fellow female bison Becky were gifted to the Lords Park Zoo in 2013 by Brookfield Zoo.

At the time, the Elgin zoo had one remaining bison, a female named Po-Key, who died shortly after the arrival of her two new penmates. Rowe said Po-Key was 22 when she, like Drew, became ill, could no longer stand and had to be euthanized.

The zoo’s third bison, Takoda, arrived in 2016 from the herd kept at Fermilab in Batavia. She is now 7 years old.

Rowe and Blazier are involved in the monthly “Meet the Bison” program, which gives people a chance to see the animals up close and meet with caretakers.

Over the years, the two women have seen how the animals interact with each other.

“I lightly touched Drew a few times and fed her food pellets a couple more,” Blazier said. “Of the three bison, Drew was the most docile and kind of a peacemaker between Becky and Takoda when they picked at each other.”

Becky acts as the matriarch of the small herd, Rowe said. Drew frequently acted as a surrogate mother to Takoda, particularly when Takoda first arrived as a baby.

Becky, 24, is showing some signs of aging that require monitoring but she seems well and is maintaining her weight, Rowe said. Takoda is healthy and can be a little rambunctious, she said.

Both bison have been receiving diligent, high-quality care from committed city staff, the women said.

“This (death) has been hard for the park crew especially,” Blazier said. “They care for those animals every day, and they know the animals’ personalities and quirks. It’s been akin to losing a loved pet. I guarantee you, they loved her. There are a lot of aching hearts out there, including mine.”

As for what the future holds, Friends of Lords Park Zoo President Terry Gabel said his group has told the city they would be willing to purchase another and donate another bison when the need arose. It’s a topic he’ll take up with city officials, he said.

Rowe said bison have been part of Lords Park Zoo on and off since 1905.

“We’ll take time to make the right decision about replacing Drew and come up with a good plan,” she said.

Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.