San Diego Zoo’s hippopotamus Otis euthanized

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A 45-year-old male river hippo named Otis has died at the San Diego Zoo. The San Diego Zoo Alliance announced Monday that the hippo had been under care for degenerative joint and spinal disease, and a decision to euthanize him was made during the weekend when his condition declined dramatically. The San Diego Union-Tribune says Otis became known as the “smiling hippo” in 2010 thanks to a viral photo taken by visitors that caught him with his teeth showing in what looked like a giant grin. The 4,500-pound hippo was brought to San Diego in 2009 to mate with a female.