Elderly Lincoln Park Zoo Leopard Put To Sleep
CHICAGO (STMW) - An elderly leopard affectionately nicknamed "The Queen" was euthanized Tuesday at Lincoln Park Zoo because of kidney problems.
Zoo animal-care staff put down the 20-year-old cat, which suffered progressively deteriorating kidney function, according to the zoo's website. Kidney failure is not an uncommon problem for aged big cats. The median life expectancy of leopards in zoos is 14 years.
Marta "The Queen" was a 20-year-old leopard who spent most of her life at the zoo. She was brought to the zoo in 1992 after wildlife officials confiscated her from a private home, where she was being kept illegally, the zoo said.
Marta was allergic to many kinds of food and inhalant particles, and required extra attention, care and allergy-control measures from vets and keepers.
"Marta was known by many guests of the Lincoln Park Zoo and was a wonderful, playful and very gentle cat," zoo manager Mark Kamhout said. "Despite being one of the oldest cats at the Lion House, Marta was always very engaging with people and especially enjoyed being scratched by her keepers with either a long-handled brush or cardboard tube."
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