General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI think I'll take the sad news from the Minnesota Zoo today as a good omen
Sad news because one of the zoo's Amur (aka Siberian) tigers died during a routine medical procedure & the species is endangered.
A good omen because, per the email I received from the zoo "Born in 2009 in the Czech Republic and given the name Putin"
So, Putin is dead - pity it wasn't the human one but perhaps this is a sign (yes, I'm grasping at straws).
If anyone is interested this is the full text of the Zoo's email:
Its with heavy hearts that we share that yesterday, during a routine medical procedure, the Zoos 12-year-old male Amur tiger experienced cardiac failure. Despite heroic emergency efforts of veterinarians, animal health technicians, and zookeepers, he did not survive.
This is a profound loss. The Minnesota Zoo has a long history of tiger care and conservation. The first tigers arrived at the Zoo more than 40 years ago, and, since that time, the Zoo has birthed 44 tiger cubs and has been a globally recognized leader in tiger care, management, and conservation.
Today is an incredibly hard day for all of us at the Minnesota Zoo and we will be mourning for quite some time, said Minnesota Zoo Director John Frawley. Our Zoo has played a key role in global tiger conservation throughout our history and we currently are co-leaders of the Tiger Conservation Campaign, which has raised millions of dollars for tiger conservation. While this loss is great, we can be proud of our efforts - past, present, and future - to advance tiger conservation worldwide.
The tiger, who came to the Minnesota Zoo in 2015, was undergoing a preventative health exam that included the collection of samples to assist with breeding efforts at the recommendation of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Amur Tiger Species Survival Plan. Breeding and specimen collection are of critical importance to a globally threatened species, like the Amur tiger. There are approximately 103 Amur tigers in AZA accredited zoos in North America and believed to be less than 500 animals surviving in the wild.
Born in 2009 in the Czech Republic and given the name Putin, the tiger lived at the Denmark Zoo for six years before arriving in Minnesota. His genetically important legacy lives on as he has sired multiple cubs, including one born in 2017 at the Minnesota Zoo.
This was a routine procedure that is a vital part of our care and conservation work for tigers, said Dr. Taylor Yaw, the Minnesota Zoos Chief of Animal Care, Health and Conservation. We plan weeks ahead for these types of exams. All necessary precautions were taken, and the team did everything within their power to save this animal. Well continue to learn more in the days and months ahead, and we are grateful for the support of the University of Minnesotas pathology team for their expertise and support as a necropsy is conducted.
We would like to extend a special thanks to the animal health and care teams at the Zoo for their commitment to our animals and to all those throughout the community who have supported the Zoo and our tiger conservation efforts for the past 43 years.
Meowmee
(5,164 posts)Who named him that, awful.
dflprincess
(28,057 posts)In the meantime, let's hope the Angel of Death will have better aim next time.
Well, at least he would have had no clue what it meant 😹
Xavier Breath
(3,528 posts)"His name was Putin, so clearly Soros-funded ANTIFA agents climbed into his enclosure and gave him a COVID shot to stop his heart!"
dflprincess
(28,057 posts)but even for that a tiger must be put under anesthesia. The University of MN will be doing a necropsy to see if they can figure out what happened.
The sad thing is, it's estimated that there are only 500 of these tigers left in the wild, the Minnesota Zoo has long been involved in a breeding program and the email sounded like they might have been checking him out for that. This Putin was far more valuable to his species than the other one is.
Raine
(30,540 posts)inspite of having such an ugly name.