Sad News Today From Amarillo Zoo. Savannah The Tiger Has Died.

You hate to see it, and it always tugs at your heart. Today in a press release from the City of Amarillo, it was announced that Savannah, the tiger at Amarillo Zoo, has died.

Savannah was humanely euthanized on Friday, Jan 6.

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What Happened To Savannah, The Tiger At Amarillo Zoo

According to the press release, Savannah was struggling with arthritis and kidney disease. These had been battles since 2021.

She had been at the zoo since 2010. The 19-year-old Bengal tiger was a favorite among staff.

According to the press release, zoo staff noticed that Savannah was ill. They conferred with consulting veterinarians, and made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize the tigress.

Going To Miss Seeing Amarillo's Bengal Tiger

I remember going out to the zoo with my, then, one year old. While he wasn't completely fascinated with everything he saw, he did enjoy the tiger. The peacock scared him. The reptiles were okay. The tiger, though, was the best part.

He refused to budge an inch and just wanted to stand and watch.

Apparently, my son wasn't alone in his fascination. Savannah was, according to the press release, a favorite among visitors and zoo staff alike.

How You Can Help The Amarillo Zoo During This Time

I imagine it does have to be really tough to process something like this, especially if you've worked closely with the animal for an extended length of time. The zoo is asking for those who have memories and photos of Savannah to share them on the zoo's Facebook page.