Putin The Tiger Dies in Minnesota Zoo

APPLE VALLEY, MN — Minnesota Zoo announced that its 12-year-old Amur tiger, named Putin, died on Wednesday during a medical procedure.

He was undergoing a preventive health exam, which included collection of samples to help with breeding efforts that were recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Amur Tiger Species Survival Plan, the zoo said.

According to the zoo, breeding and specimen collection are important for a threatened species such as the Amur tiger. There are 103 Amur tigers in AZA-accredited zoos in North America, and fewer than 500 alive alive in the wild, the zoo said.

"This was a routine procedure that is a vital part of our care and conservation work for tigers," said Dr. Taylor Yaw, the Minnesota Zoo’s chief of Animal Care, Health and Conservation. "We plan weeks ahead for these types of exams. All necessary precautions were taken, and the team did everything within their power to save this animal. We’ll continue to learn more in the days and months ahead, and we are grateful for the support of the University of Minnesota’s pathology team for their expertise and support as a necropsy is conducted."

Putin the tiger was born in the Czech Republic in 2009 and lived at the Denmark Zoo for six years before moving to Minnesota, the zoo said. Since then, he has sired multiple cubs, including one born at the Minnesota Zoo in 2017, according to the zoo.

The first tigers arrived at the Zoo 40 years ago, zoo officials said. Since then, the Zoo said it has birthed 44 tiger cubs and has been globally recognized for its tiger care, management and conservation.

"Today is an incredibly hard day for all of us at the Minnesota Zoo and we will be mourning for quite some time," Minnesota Zoo Director John Frawley said. "Our Zoo has played a key role in global tiger conservation throughout our history and we currently are co-leaders of the Tiger Conservation Campaign, which has raised millions of dollars for tiger conservation. While this loss is great, we can be proud of our efforts — past, present, and future — to advance tiger conservation worldwide."