The Oakland Zoo has announced the loss of one of its tigers, a female named Lola. According to a social media post from the Zoo, Lola had been suffering from a severe infection after initially being treated for a limp. Despite the efforts of both the zoo's veterinary team and a consulting specialist, her condition spiraled, leading to the decision to humanely euthanize her.
Lola's health decline began with a limp on her right front limb, which advanced to a critical state over a matter of weeks. "This Tuesday, the veterinary team and a consulting specialist performed a third exam. The suspected foreign body was deemed insignificant, but the limb had an advancing infection," as stated in the zoo's announcement. Lola was a rescue from a shuttered roadside zoo in Oklahoma, where she lived previously under deplorable conditions. Her story, the zoo reminds us, underscores the grim realities of the cub-petting industry and the urgent need for robust big cat care regulations.
The rescue, which saw Lola and another tiger, Mia, transported to the Oakland Zoo's care in 2022, was part of an operation to rescue animals from an abandoned facility. During her brief tenure at the Zoo, Lola was estimated to be about 12 years old and left a lasting impression on the staff. Keeper Nathaniel reflected on her character, saying via the social media anouncement, "Lola was an unfortunate product of the cub-petting industry, so we can only guess what untold horrors she has had to endure. Nevertheless, she managed to be the most loving and benevolent animal on the planet."
While Lola was at the Oakland Zoo for only a short time, the care team is grateful for the opportunity to have given her a better quality of life in her final years. "She’s left an indelible mark on all of us, and we’re better for it," said Keeper Nathaniel through the Oakland Zoo Instagram page, indicating the depth of the bond formed between the tiger and her caregivers.
