Chemnitz Zoo: Tiger Jantar had to be released
Yesterday, the 19-year-old seriously ill tiger Jantar was euthanised at Chemnitz Zoo.
In spring 2017, Jantar the tiger, who was born in April 1999 at Nuremberg Zoo and came to Chemnitz Zoo in 2012, showed the first signs of illness. The animal was no longer eating his usual portions (around 6 to 8 kg of meat per day), was regularly regurgitating his food and was losing a lot of weight. Jantar was then examined in detail by the vet in co-operation with external endoscopy specialists. Inflammation was found in the oesophagus and at the entrance to the stomach. After lengthy but successful treatment, he recovered, put on weight again and appeared healthy and lively on his enclosure as usual.
Since January 2018, however, new complaints have arisen. He found it visibly difficult to stand up and walk. This could be caused by osteoarthritis, as joint disease in old age is not uncommon, even in older cats. Pain-relieving and joint-protecting medication improved his condition for a short time, but a further blood test also revealed that the tiger was diabetic. Domestic cats with diabetes can be treated relatively well and specifically with insulin injections and regular blood tests, but this is not possible with a wild animal, especially a dangerous one like a tiger. Jantar therefore received his anti-diabetic medication via his food. However, it was not possible to ensure consistent treatment in this way. When Jantar stopped eating again in the last few days, it was decided to put the sick animal out of its misery.
Almost 19 years is a very old age for a tiger (in the wild, tigers have an average life expectancy of 15 years).
There is a long tradition of keeping tigers at Chemnitz Zoo, with the first Siberian tigers already in the population in the 1970s. Several tigers were also born here. The young male tiger "Wolodja", who also came to us from Nuremberg, currently lives at Chemnitz Zoo.
Siberian tigers are threatened with extinction and keeping and breeding them in zoos is of great importance. The species is managed via a European Ex situ Programme (EEP). Whether and when tiger breeding efforts will be resumed at Chemnitz Zoo will be decided in the future.
More information at www.tierpark-chemnitz.de or on the Facebook page of Chemnitz Zoo
Opening hours
Zoo: 9 am to 4 pm, last admission 3 pm
Wildlife enclosure: 8 am to 4 pm