07/09/2022
Cranberry's keepers regret to inform you that Cranberry Short-Eared Elephant Shrew has passed away. This species has a life expectancy of 3-5 years and Cranberry would've been 8 in November. She was the last of her species in North America and the oldest on record. She was born on Thanksgiving at the National Zoo in D.C. During the lockdown, Cranberry's cuteness spread on a Facebook group for zookeepers. She amassed a following of thousands all over the world. There are Cranberry clothes, stickers, and some people are even designing Cranberry tattoos. She received gifts from fans and loved checking out her new enrichment items. Despite only weighing about 30g, she could demolish a giant mealworm in seconds. She had the most adorable wiggly nose and was actually more closely related to elephants than shrews. We are grateful for all the years we had with her and the happiness she brought to people all over the world. She will be sorely missed by everyone.
