Zoo says goodbye to beloved Siberian tiger
HATTIESBURG, Mississippi (AP) — A Siberian tiger that called the Hattiesburg Zoo home for 17 years has been euthanized.
Rick Taylor, executive director of the Hattiesburg Convention Commission, says the female tiger was euthanized Friday at the zoo by veterinarians.
Taylor says in a statement that the tiger, called Tigger, suffered from painful arthritis and could not get up to eat.
Animal Curator Katie Barry says the zoo waited until after consulting three veterinarians who each agreed to the same course of action.
Zoo officials say there are about 500 Siberian tigers living in the wild, and their typical life expectancy is 10 to 15 years.
