Salt the Tiger Euthanized at Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo Age 17 [Video]

Zoo officials at Alabama Gulf Gulf Coast Zoo announced Jan. 17, 2019 on their website that Salt a female Siberian Tiger was euthanized on Jan. 6 at 3:45 p.m. CT. Salt was 17 years old.

Zoo Director Dr. Adam Langston said that the zoo is waiting for a final pathology report, but Salt was suffering from weakness in her hind legs which is thought to have been caused by spinal cord disease. For several months she was walking with difficulty and was taking various medications to help improve her quality of life, but her condition declined, and nothing else could be done. The kindest thing was to let her go.

Salt did not die alone. Zoo Curator Cyndi Johnson and many of the zookeepers who cared and loved her were with Salt as she went on her final journey.

Salt and Pepper who was her sister (who died in 2015), were raised by the Head Zookeeper at the time Cyndi Johnson. Both tigers were raised by hand since they were six months old. Johnson took the tiger’s death particularly hard. She said Salty was her first tiger and the one that changed her life and developed her love for large cats. Salt was a very special tiger and stole her heart immediately. She added that every animal is difficult t lose, but Salt was unique and has left her heartbroken.

Salt and Pepper were featured regularly on the “Animal Planet” television show “The Little Zoo That Could.” The show was about the survival of the animals at the Alabama State Zoo after hurricane Ivan. The two tigers were the first animals any visitor of the zoo would see, and they helped bring attention to the zoo after the disaster.

Zookeeper Rachel Gulley said Salt loved all the zookeepers. She loved attention and was playful and would love to show off by playing or sunbathing. There will be only one Salt.

Written by Barbara Sobel

Sources:

OBA: The Little Zoo’s Beloved Salt Has Died
WKRG: Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo’s Siberian tiger “Salt” passes away
AL: Siberian Tiger ‘Salt’ dies at Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

Featured and Top Image Courtesy of g-s-h’s  Flickr Page – Creative Commons License