Submitted Photo Sully, a 12-year-old Scottish Highland bull at Roosevelt Park Zoo, shown in younger days, has died. The bull lived at the zoo since 2012.

Roosevelt Park Zoo’s Scottish Highland bull has died.

The bull, named Sully, was 12 years and two and a half months at the time of his death.

On Saturday morning, the North trails zookeeper discovered Sully had died overnight.

A post-mortem exam was performed, which is standard procedure after the loss of an animal at the Minot zoo. During the exam it was noted some abnormalities in Sully’s gasto-intestinal tract and lungs. Samples taken during the exam will be sent for a pathological examination to provide some insight into what caused the bull’s death.

“It is never easy to lose any animal at any time, but the staff has had to do more than their share of mourning this year and it takes its toll on them emotionally. It is perhaps the most difficult part of the job,” said Jeff Bullock, zoo director.

A 25-year-old primate (a Siamang) and a 2-year-old Amur leopard died in March, and a giraffe calf died in May.

Sully was born at Dakota Zoo in Bismarck on March 12, 2012, and arrived at the Minot zoo on Sept. 29, 2012. He was joined by a female named Sally. Sully and Sally produced five calves between 2014 and 2019, when Sally was traded for a new female, Sage. Sully and Sage produced three calves since her arrival, including Sylvester, who was born on April 21 of this year. Sage and Sylvester remain on exhibit and decisions related to replacing Sully at this time will depend on the timeline for the floodwall project within the zoo.