Tragic Accident Claims the Life of Amur Tiger at Colorado Zoo

Tragic Accident Claims the Life of 2-Year-Old Amur Tiger at Colorado Zoo

In a devastating turn of events, a 2-year-old Amur tiger named Mila has died in a “freak accident” at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado. The zoo announced the heartbreaking news in a statement on Tuesday.

Mila had been given a dose of anesthesia on August 25 in preparation for a dental procedure. After receiving the anesthesia, she jumped onto a bench to lie down while it took effect. However, tragedy struck when she slipped off the waist-tall bench at an angle that resulted in a fatal spinal injury, according to the zoo.

Dr. Eric Klaphake, the head veterinarian at the zoo, explained, “She could have slid off from that height a hundred times and landed in a variety of other positions and been unaffected.” Despite the best efforts of the zoo’s team, who diligently tried to provide life-saving care for 40 minutes, Mila could not be saved.

Mila was the only cub to survive in her litter and had been sent to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo from the Toronto Zoo in March on a future breeding recommendation. Although she had not yet been seen by guests in Colorado, she was close to being introduced to the community when zoo staff discovered her serious dental issue, which could have been potentially fatal.

Zoo leadership emphasized the careful consideration that went into the decision to administer anesthesia to treat Mila’s dental problem. “Our team delivered exactly the right amount of drugs to a very calm tiger who had trained for this moment,” said Bob Chastain, CEO and president of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. “We have successfully anesthetized countless tigers in this same den, and have never experienced an accident like this. We never take decisions to anesthetize an animal for a procedure lightly, and this is a tragic example of why.”

The loss of Mila has also deeply affected the staff at the Toronto Zoo. Dolf DeJong, the CEO of Toronto Zoo, expressed their sorrow, saying, “She will be deeply missed by all, and while we feel certain the connections she made with guests will stay with them for a lifetime and were an inspiration to get involved in the fight to save this endangered species in the wild. We are deeply saddened by her loss.”

This is not the first unexpected death of an Amur tiger at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. In 2021, a 9-year-old tiger named Savelli died due to complications during recovery from an artificial insemination procedure. Following this incident, the zoo began donating to tiger preservation efforts in the wild.

Amur tigers, which are mostly solitary animals native to the Russian Far East, are critically endangered in the wild, with only 500 individuals living in natural habitats, according to the zoo. Nearly 100 Amur tigers are under human care in both the U.S. and Canada.

Bob Chastain reflected on the loss of Mila and the broader issue of tiger conservation, stating, “It is sobering to know that no matter how tragic these events are, that we are losing tigers in the wild every day as these animals, and many like them, struggle to survive in a world where there are so many people and so few wild places.”

The loss of Mila serves as a reminder of the urgent need to protect and preserve these magnificent creatures in their natural habitats.

How is the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo honoring Mila’s memory and continuing her legacy in conservation efforts for Amur tigers

S dental issue. Dr. Klaphake stated, “In the end, we had no other choice. Without this procedure, she would have faced a very poor quality of life and likely an early death.” He added, “We considered all possible risks and took all necessary precautions, but unfortunately, accidents can still happen.”

The tragic loss of Mila has left the zoo community heartbroken. Bob Chastain, President and CEO of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, expressed his deep sorrow and said, “This is an incredibly sad and devastating day for our entire zoo family. Our staff is in mourning, and we are all grieving the loss of Mila.”

Amur tigers are an endangered species, with only about 500 individuals left in the wild. Mila’s death is not only a personal loss for the zoo but also a blow to conservation efforts. The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo actively participates in breeding programs to help increase the population of Amur tigers, and Mila’s future breeding potential had brought hope to the conservation community.

The zoo is now conducting a thorough investigation to understand the circumstances of the accident and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. They have expressed their commitment to learning from this tragedy and reinforcing their already stringent safety protocols.

This heartbreaking incident serves as a reminder of the delicate balancing act zoos face – providing medical care and quality of life for animals while minimizing risks. The loss of Mila is a devastating blow to both the zoo and the conservation community, highlighting the inherent risks associated with providing necessary medical treatments to captive animals.

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has set up a memorial fund in Mila’s name to support conservation programs for Amur tigers. The fund will aim to honor Mila’s memory and continue her legacy in the fight to save these magnificent creatures from extinction.