Zoo Miami Mourns Loss Of Beloved Jaguar
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Zoo Miami is sad to announce the passing of "Nieve," a 19 year-old female jaguar.
Her zookeepers had noticed recently signs of lethargy and a reduced appetite. After symptoms worsened, veterinary staff decided to immobilize the big cat to perform more thorough tests.
It was discovered that Nieve was in renal failure, a condition not uncommon for any cat at an advanced age.
Nieve, as reported in late July, had recently undergone a surgery to remove an abnormal growth on her abdomen that was approximately the size of a grapefruit. The surgical team was successful in removing the tumor and, despite her age, she had a great recovery. However, after just a couple of weeks back on exhibit her condition began to worsen.
Based on Nieve's age (the average life span for jaguars in the wild is 12-14) and renal failure, the staff at Zoo Miami elected to humanely euthanize her due to poor prognosis for recovery.
Although "Nieve" came to Zoo Miami just four years ago on a breeding recommendation, she quickly became a keeper favorite. Her keepers will miss her profoundly and feel fortunate to have been given the opportunity to care for her.
A necropsy was performed by veterinary staff and the results are pending while samples are being processed. The results of those tests could take several weeks.
The loss of Nieve is just the most recent animal death at Zoo Miami. In the past two years the zoo has lost JJ the silver back gorilla, a female lion Asha, an Asian elephant named Maude, the Malaysian tiger Tevy, King George the cheetah, Fezzik, a 17-year-old Somali giraffe who died during hoof surgery, and more.
CBS4 News recently spent four months at the zoo which gave us unprecedented access for a half hour special on life and death decisions made at the zoo every day.
