LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A tiger that called the Louisville Zoo home for the last two years has died.
The Zoo announced the passing of Kami Sambal, a 16-year-old Sumatran tiger.
Zoo officials said Kami had a rapid decline in his health and suffered kidney problems and anemia which often indicates underlying cancer – such as lymphoma – a condition observed in geriatric tigers.
The Zoo said they made a difficult decision to “humanely euthanize” Kami.
“Saying goodbye to a member of our extended family is hard, but we always consider an animal’s wellbeing and what’s best for their overall outcome,” Louisville Zoo director Dan Maloney said in a statement.
Kami also leaves behind an important legacy – his six cubs he’s sired, including a month-old cub with 14-year-old tiger Jingga born in July.
Fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers remain in the wild and the Zoo said the birth of Kami’s cub is an important one.
Kami was transferred to the Zoo in 2022, and it included a breeding recommendation from the Sumatran tiger Species Survival Plan.
“Our focus now is celebrating the incredible legacy Kami has left behind, both from his offspring and his impact as an ambassador for his species. Throughout his life, Kami helped inspire millions of guests to care deeply about wildlife and we honor his contribution to tiger conservation efforts.”
The Zoo has not revealed a name for Kami’s son as he is still bonding with his mom. They are hoping visitors will be able to see him soon.
To check out Kami’s legacy, visit the Cub Cam.
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