Zoo Boise says Katarina, their 14-year-old Amur tiger, had to be put down after a back injury.
Last October, she suffered a herniated disc and was paralyzed in her back legs. Katarina then had surgery where veterinarians took out material that was pressing against her spinal cord. She recovered and was back in her exhibit by January.
But in the past few days, she began losing the ability to walk and took a turn for the worse. Vets said they couldn’t risk operating on the senior tiger again, so they made the decision to euthanize her.
“This is a sad day for everyone who had the chance to meet this majestic creature,” said Boise Parks and Recreation Director Doug Holloway. “Katarina was truly a member of our family and we will miss her.”
Zoo Boise lost its other tiger, Tundra, in 2016. Katarina was the last of the big cats at the zoo.
The zoo says it will try to bring another tiger to Boise.
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