Louisville Zoo mourns loss of female tiger Sinda

((EDITOR’S NOTE: More photos are
available upon request.))

Amur tiger Sinda, who just turned 17 on Nov. 3, died at the Louisville Zoo this morning. Seventeen is considered to be geriatric for big cats.

In September, Sinda was diagnosed with a squamous cell carcinoma on the roof of her mouth. This is a very aggressive oral cancer in cats.

The Zoo veterinary team consulted with a local oral surgeon, veterinary surgeon, and veterinary oncologist to help determine the best course of action. While surgical removal is the treatment of choice, due to the tumor size and location, it was considered inoperable. Sinda was prescribed anti-inflammatory medications to make her more comfortable.

Once her conditioned progressed to the point where it became painful for her to move and extremely difficult to eat, Zoo staff made the decision to humanely euthanize her.

“She will be greatly missed,” said Dave Hodge, a keeper who cared for Sinda since she arrived at the Louisville Zoo in 1999. “I will never forget her—she was the most beautiful tiger I have worked with or seen.”

Hodge also said he will remember Sinda as a great mother and caretaker for her two cubs—Anya and Irisa—that were born at the Louisville Zoo in 2004. They currently live at the Columbus Zoo.

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AMUR TIGER INFORMATION

Amur tigers are the largest of the tiger subspecies and were formerly known as Siberian tigers. Males can grow up to 10 foot 9 inches long and weigh up to 660 pounds. Females are smaller, measuring about 8 1/2 feet from head to tail, and weighing about 200 to 370 pounds. The Amur orange coloring is paler than the coloring of other tigers. Its stripes are brown rather than black, and are widely spaced. It has a white chest and belly, and a thick white ruff of fur around its neck.

It is estimated there are about 500 Amur tigers left in the wild. There are about 150 Amur tigers in facilities North America and about 315 overseas.

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The Louisville Zoo, a non-profit organization and state zoo of Kentucky, is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation education. The Zoo is accredited by the American Association of Museums (AAM) and by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). For more information, visit www.louisvillezoo.org.

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Photos by Kara Bussabarger