Snow leopard dies at New Jersey zoo after cancer battle
A New Jersey zoo is mourning the death of a beloved snow leopard who gave birth to seven “strong” and “healthy” cubs, adding to the global population of an at-risk species.
The 17-year-old feline, whose name was Himani, died Friday after a months-long battle with cancer, the Cape May County Park & Zoo announced.
“Her success in rearing strong healthy cubs contributed valuable bloodlines to the Species Survival Plan population,” reads a Facebook post shared Sunday by the zoo.
“The cubs born at our zoo introduced our guests to the rare opportunity to see cubs of one of the most endangered species of animals on the planet,” the post continued. “The attention Himani’s cubs brought to our zoo gave us national attention and made the Cape May County Zoo known throughout the country.”
The county said Himani was “peacefully euthanized.”
The popular zoo is located in the Cape May Court House community in Middle Township.
Himani arrived at the New Jersey animal center in 2009 after previously living at Tennessee’s Knoxville Zoo, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
With News Wire Services
