Miami MetroZoo jaguar dies during surgery

Miami MetroZoo jaguar dies during surgery

Published: Nov. 20, 2009 at 12:15 PM

MIAMI, Nov. 20 (UPI) — A spokesman for Miami MetroZoo said one of its two jaguars died while undergoing surgery for a stomach problem.

Zoo spokesman Ron Magill said Palenque the jaguar died Wednesday, The Miami Herald reported Friday.

A necropsy was performed but results were pending.

Magill said the 129-pound male jaguar was kept separate from Miami MetroZoo’s other jaguar, Reina, because jaguars are solitary animals that traditionally take time to adjust to one another.

“If you try to introduce two jaguars at the wrong time, one can kill the other,” Magill said.

Magill told the Herald that Palenque exhibited symptoms of gastrointestinal problems as well as inconsistent eating difficulties since first arriving at the zoo in August 2007.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2009/11/20/Miami-MetroZoo-jaguar-dies-during-surgery/UPI-17171258737344/

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Metrozoo jaguar dies during medical procedure
Miami Herald, The (FL) – Friday, November 20, 2009
Author: Miami Herald

One of Miami Metrozoo’s two jaguars died Wednesday during a medical procedure designed to stop his stomach problems. He was 3 years old.

Palenque, who weighed 129 pounds, was one of the star attractions at the zoo ‘s newest exhibit, Amazon and Beyond, said Ron Magill, the zoo ‘s spokesman. Jaguars are solitary animals, so he was kept separate from his betrothed, Reina — a female who was not yet ready for an intimate relationship.

“If you try to introduce two jaguars at the wrong time, one can kill the other,” Magill said.

Since Palenque’s arrival at the zoo in August 2007, Magill said, the cat has had off-again, on-again troubles eating his food (a combination of horse meat, vitamins and bones). On occasion, he showed symptoms of larger gastrointestinal problems.

The zoo was awaiting necropsy results Thursday.

— ROBERT SAMUELS

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/1343207.html

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