Some sad news to pass along out of the Minnesota Zoo.
Dari, zoo's 13-year old female Amur tiger, was recently humanely euthanized due to mesothelioma, an aggressive and incurable form of cancer.
She was born at the Zoo in 2012 and gave birth to six cubs, including Amaliya and Andrei, born on May 23, 2024.
In a post on social media, the zoo says tireless and compassionate efforts to save the tiger weren't enough.
"We are grateful for our animal care and veterinary teams and their work to ensure Dari passed peacefully under expert care," the Minnesota Zoo said in a statement."
Dari was born in captivity on June 17, 2012, and hand-raised at the Minnesota Zoo.
"Dari was a beloved ambassador and a key contributor to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Amur Tiger Species Survival Plan," the zoo explained. "Her keepers remember her as 'a true matriarch, a pillar of strength, and an irreplaceable member of our Zoo … [and] a symbol of resilience and stability during some of the most challenging years for the Species Survival Program.' Dari was a remarkable mother who leaves a long and hopeful legacy with her cubs."
Dari's six cubs born at the zoon include Vera, Brosno, Vostok, Yana.
The arrival of Amaliya and Andrei shined a spotlight on the Minnesota Zoo's efforts in tiger conservation.
"We are deeply grateful to our animal care and veterinary teams for their dedication and to our community for your continued support," they say.