After a long hospital stay to identify Smith’s gastric issues, vet Dr Peter Caldwell found it was being caused by a permanent heart condition, meaning lifetime medication. Smith has restrictive cardiomyopathy which has caused scarring and damage to the heart. So far, he has responded well to medication and all of the fluid is now out of his abdomen.

How long our beloved Smith may have cannot be predicted, but we hope you can wrap your love around him today, as he returns to a quieter habitat (he must not get too excited), but he can hear and see his brother, Rey and the rest of the Cusco family. He must be kept quiet and calm and is being monitored in a large feeding camp (625 square metres) before being released into the main habitat. We are all hoping for the best for dear Smith.