Antwerp Zoo's last tiger, Yessie, dies at 17

Antwerp Zoo has reported the death of Yessie, its last Siberian tiger, and the second death of a big cat this year. She had been lethargic for several days and eating little. 

“Her condition deteriorated quickly, and it was decided not to let her suffer any longer,” a spokesperson for the zoo said. “Vet Francis put her quietly to sleep. Yessie was an older lady full of life, and we shall miss her.”

Yessie (pictured), born in the zoo, was 17 years old, a relatively advanced age for a Siberian tiger, which tend to live longer in captivity than in the wild. Just last July, the zoo lost Kharlan, a male Siberian tiger, aged 16.

Yessie’s death leaves the tiger enclosure empty. There are no plans to replace her just yet: The zoo plans to build an entirely new enclosure for its future tigers.

Photo: Hans De Bisschop/Flickr Commons