Australia’s oldest captive Sumatran tiger dies at Adelaide Zoo aged 22
CANBERRA: Australia’s oldest captive Sumatran tiger, Kemiri, has passed away at the Adelaide Zoo at the age of 22 after veterinarians decided to euthanise her due to the seriousness of her age-related conditions, China’s Xinhua news agency reported.
Kemiri was born at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo before she was transferred to Adelaide in the mid1990s, and senior veterinarian at the Adelaide Zoo, Ian Smith, said she lived a long and happy life before kidney troubles and arthritis took their toll, forcing vets to undertake the procedure late Wednesday evening.
“For a number of months, Kemiri had been suffering from a number of age-related conditions which the veterinary team had been treating, but over the past week her condition deteriorated,” Smith was quoted in a press release by the zoo on Thursday.
“The veterinary team decided that further medical treatment would not improve Kemiri’s quality of life. The difficult decision was made to humanely euthanize her, and although this is a sad loss for Adelaide Zoo, it was the best thing to do for Kemiri.”
Smith said Kemiri lived a life almost twice as long as what’s expected for Sumatran tigers in the wild.
“The average life expectancy for Sumatran tigers in the wild is about 12 years – and in captivity about 20 years – so to reach 22 is really positive,” he said.
Meanwhile, zookeeper Matt Daly said Kemiri’s long life at the zoo meant she touched the hearts of many who worked there, as well as the many visitors who have observed her enclosure over the years, explaining that Kemiri was unusually playful for a Sumatran tiger.
“We were so lucky to have Kemiri with us for so long. She was playful and interactive with keepers throughout her years here at Adelaide Zoo and will be fondly remembered,” Daly said.
“She would greet her keepers in the morning with an affectionate chuff and lean in for scratches.” There are believed to be only around 400 Sumatran tigers left in the wild, but Zoos SA CEO Elaine Bensted said they would be making inquiries about bringing in another tiger to join the zoo’s other two – Tuan and Assiqua.