Zoo Boise tiger put down due to illness
Zoo Boise officials say Taiga, one of the zoo’s male Amur tigers, was euthanized Tuesday.
“Taiga’s health had quickly declined in the last few days and he had not responded to veterinary treatment,’ Boise Parks and Recreation Department spokeswoman Amy Stahl said in a news release.
“A necropsy revealed evidence of previously-diagnosed chronic renal failure and large tumors in his spleen. The poor prognosis, the decline in quality of life, and the advanced stage of his renal disease were the deciding factors in euthanizing the tiger,” said Stahl.
Taiga was 15 years old. The tiger came to Zoo Boise from Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo along with his brother, Tundra. Amur tigers typically live 10-12 years in the wild and 12-18 years in zoos. “The tigers are one of the most popular animals at Zoo Boise,” Stahl added.
In addition to Taiga, Zoo Boise has two tigers, Tundra and Katarina. Katarina, a 9-year-old female came to the zoo in 2011 in anticipation of replacing the aging tigers. There are no immediate plans to secure another tiger, officials said.
(photo: courtesy Zoo Boise)
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