In a heartbreaking announcement on Tuesday, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado revealed the tragic death of Mila, a 2-year-old Amur tiger, due to a “freak accident.” The tiger had been administered anesthesia on August 25 for a dental procedure, and while waiting for the anesthetic to take effect, she jumped onto a bench to lie down. Unfortunately, Mila slipped off the bench at an unfortunate angle, which resulted in a fatal spinal injury.
Dr. Eric Klaphake, the head veterinarian of the zoo, expressed that this accident was an unfortunate occurrence as Mila could have slid off the bench and landed in numerous other positions without harm. The zoo’s team promptly entered her den and made earnest efforts for 40 minutes to provide life-saving care.
Mila, the sole cub to survive in her litter, had been transferred from the Toronto Zoo to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo earlier this year for future breeding purposes. Although she had not been introduced to the public in Colorado, the zoo staff discovered a severe dental issue that could have proven fatal to Mila.
The zoo leadership emphasized the careful consideration involved in the decision to administer anesthesia to address the tiger’s dental problem. Bob Chastain, the CEO and president of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, emphasized that the team had precisely administered the drugs to a calm tiger who had been trained for such procedures. He further stated that the zoo never takes the decision to anesthetize an animal lightly, and Mila’s tragic accident serves as a sorrowful reminder of the potential risks involved.
The Toronto Zoo staff also expressed their grief over Mila’s loss, acknowledging the impact she had made on guests and the inspiration she provided to support the conservation of this endangered species in the wild.
Mila’s death marks the second unexpected loss of an Amur tiger at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. In 2021, another tiger named Savelli passed away due to complications during recovery from an artificial insemination procedure. Following this incident, the zoo began contributing to tiger preservation initiatives in the wild.
Amur tigers are primarily solitary creatures native to the Russian Far East, and they are critically endangered in their natural habitats, with only 500 individuals remaining. Approximately 100 Amur tigers live under human care in the United States and Canada combined. Chastain expressed his sobering realization that while these incidents are tragic, tigers in the wild face daily struggles to survive in a world with limited viable habitats, impacted by the increasing human population.
It is important to acknowledge the ongoing challenges faced by these magnificent animals and work towards their conservation and protection in order to ensure their survival for future generations.
Sources:
– Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Statement: https://www.cmzoo.org/news/archive/cheyenne-mountain-zoo-shares-tragic-loss-of-mila-2-year-old-amur-tiger/
– CBS News: Author Bio – Simrin Singh.
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