Samson, a river hippopotamus who had lived at the Toronto Zoo since April 1993, died Tuesday. He was 43.

“He was an amazing animal,” said Maria Franke, the zoo’s curator of mammals.

“There’s definitely a lot of people out there who’re very sad. But it is life and we are professionals so we have to accept it. People get old and die and so do animals.”

The life expectancy of a hippo is about 36 years. Samson was born on July 21, 1973, at Quebec’s Granby Zoo.

The hippo weighed 3,740 lbs. His remains were sent to the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College.

Franke said Samson was euthanized after suffering from geriatric issues, such as lack of appetite and mobility, and a malignant tumor on his leg.

“He was just an older hippo ... and just showing his age.”

Samson was popular with the staff and visitors at the zoo. While he didn’t have any moments in the spotlight, like the pandas who spent time with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, “he was a personal favorite of mine,” Franke said.

Samson, she said, had a very calm personality. He loved lying in piles of sand, eating cantaloupes and pumpkins.

His sister, Perky, had been living at the zoo since 1992. Two years later, they were joined by their sister, Petal. Both Perky and Petal are alive.

Being an older hippo, he was also just a little spoiled, receiving extra special attention and a few more treats.

At the end of the day, right before the keepers leave the zoo, the hippos start to call, Franke said.

“The call is so loud and deep, it vibrates in your chest,” she said. “It’s a very hard call to mimic.”

No one really knows why they vocalize, she said. Hippos live in large groups, called schools, and when one animal starts to call the others follow.

“I’ve heard it so many times when I’ve left the hippo house,” she said. “To me, the hippo call is the call of Africa.

“Tonight there will be one less call at the hippo house. Perky and Petal will still be calling the keepers but they’re going to be missing Samson’s call.”