16-year-old Sumatran tiger at Phoenix Zoo dies of health problems

PHOENIX — A 16-year-old Sumatran tiger who called the Phoenix Zoo home was euthanized Friday after spending years dealing with various health issues.

Spokeswoman Linda Hardwick said Suriya had been dealing with a chronic inflammatory eye condition, a serious skin infection and kidney failure.

“It is with deep sadness and after much discussion between keeper and veterinary staff that the difficult decision was made to humanely euthanize our 16-year-old female tiger, Suriya,” Hardwick  said in a statement.

“Keeper staff and our veterinary staff have shown great dedication with trying to manage health challenges over the past couple of years.”

The eye condition required several surgeries and extensive medical treatment over the last two years, and she was given repeated anesthesia to treat the infection and intravenous fluids for her kidneys. None of the treatments improved her condition.

Suriya came to the Phoenix Zoo in 2015 from the Oklahoma City Zoo.

“She showed herself to be a shy, but sassy cat, as well as a beautiful cat with a personality to match. Her little quirks and stubbornness won the hearts of her keepers,” Hardwick said.

“One of her favorite activities was eating her fish but leaving the heads for her keepers to clean. Suriya excelled at sleeping upside down and turning her scratching logs into pillows. Everything about Suriya will be missed from her bright white whiskers to the black tip of her tail. Her keepers cherished every moment with her and will never forget all the lessons she taught them.”

The median life expectancy for Sumatran tigers is 18.4 years of age, the zoo said. There are two more Sumatran tigers at the facility: Jai, a 14-year-old male, and a 4-year-old female, Dari.

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