Tonka, a Baird's tapir who has lived at the Bergen County Zoo for more than two decades, has died, the zoo announced. Tonka originally arrived in Bergen County in 2003 at 3 years old.

In the years since, the zoo says that its staff has been dedicated in providing Tonka with exceptional care. This included a rotation of his favorite enrichment items with a box labeled "Tonka's Toys."

At the age of 25, Tonka surpassed the average lifespan of a Baird's tapir by more than five years, the zoo said in a post on Facebook , adding, "His presence will be greatly missed by all at the zoo."

Baird's tapirs, as described by National Geographic , are large, long-nosed mammals. While they may look like relatives of elephants, they are actually closer kin to horses, donkeys, zebras and rhinoceros

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