Gary the goat, an internet sensation with a Facebook following of more than 1.7 million people, has died on tour in Australia.
Gary the goat was an internet sensation. Photo: Facebook / Gary the Goat
News of Gary's passing hit hard when it was announced on social media early Friday morning.
In the 12 hours that followed, more than 44,000 comments have been left, and his farewell post has been shared more than 32,000 times.
Gary and his owner, comedian Jim Dezarnaulds, also known as Jimbo Baboozi, were on their Goin' Troppo tour in regional Queensland at the time of Gary's passing.
The duo were famous for their comedy routines in pubs across Australia.
According to their website, their last show together was on Tuesday in Emerald, and their next was scheduled for Moranbah on Saturday.
"Gary died tonight aged six [on 16 November about 10:30pm] from euthanasia - after vets diagnosed a bleed from an acute heart tumour," Mr Dezarnaulds wrote on Gary's Facebook page.
"The vets drained it once but when it came back 24 hours later we decided that Gary needed to go out peacefully and pain-free instead of being conscious while he couldn't breathe.
"We thought it was just bloat at first - but it's very hard to diagnose a goat who doesn't give a f***.
Speaking with ABC Capricornia, Mr Dezarnaulds confirmed the animal, which has been a part of his shows since 2011, had been frozen in preparation for a taxidermist.
"I was doing this show for seven years and a guy offered me a goat for a case of beer one night in Gingin," he said.
"Gary was just my best mate."
The Sydney-born comedian has received an outpouring of support from fans across the country and said he was as shocked as anyone by the sudden death of his animal sidekick.
- ABC News
