The Greater Vancouver Zoo is ringing in the New Year on a sad note after euthanizing Sweetie, its oldest tiger.
Zoo manager Jody Henderson said officials made the “extremely difficult decision” to put down the Siberian tiger Tuesday afternoon due to ongoing health issues.
“It has been a tough day,” Henderson said in a release. “Sweetie was a very special part of our zoo family and will be dearly missed by all.”
The tiger had been suffering from a lack of appetite, lethargy and respiratory problems, and had spent the last month and a half in veterinary care.
Sweetie was born at the zoo 18 years ago.
She outlived the median life expectancy of captive female Siberian tigers by four years, according to the zoo.
