The Phoenix Zoo has bid farewell to Beau, a 10-year-old cheetah, renowned for his grace and speed, after the animal was euthanized due to serious health issues. Officially announced via a solemn Facebook post by the zoo, Beau was put to rest on March 1 after his hind leg strength deteriorated, leading to worsening partial paralysis. A post-mortem examination revealed a bone tumor on his spine, as reported by AZ Family.

Originally hailing from Florida, Beau had been a fixture at the Phoenix Zoo since 2014, when he arrived with his brothers, Rhett and Wilkes, to much fanfare. The trio of cheetahs, affectionately named after characters from "Gone with the Wind" in a nod to their mother's name, Scarlette, stole the hearts of visitors and staff alike during their stay. While a sorrowful event, the euthanization was deemed necessary for Beau's welfare, as stated in ABC15's report.

During Beau's time away from Phoenix, he participated in a breed assisting program at the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Texas, contributing to several litters before returning to Arizona in 2021. "The boys" reunion was a joyous occasion for the zoo staff, as noted in the original social media announcement. Sadly, Beau's physical ailments proved insurmountable, casting a shadow over an otherwise storied life.

Beau's memory is cherished not only through the public tributes shared by his keepers but in the living legacy of his brothers Rhett and Wilkes, who continue to inhabit the cheetah exhibit at the Phoenix Zoo. "Beau was lovingly referred to as Beau-Beau or Beau-friend by his keepers. He will be greatly missed," Kim, Keeper II - Carnivore told ABC15. The outpouring of affection in his memory underscores the deep bonds formed between the zoo's inhabitants and their human caretakers.