Ten Year Old Tiger Dies at Binghamton Zoo

Binghamton, NY (WBNG Binghamton) The Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park’s only tiger has died.

The 10-year-old tiger Misha died Wednesday morning at the Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park.

On Wednesday, the Zoo’s Executive Director Sheila Green says Misha was walking around the exhibit as normal, then went to take a nap and never woke up.

Green says she thinks it may be due to kidney problems since those types of medical issues run in the family.

“Like all animals to the zoo, we value all of them. We take the best care of them and we want to keep them as happy and healthy as we can for them. He’ll be missed but we’re glad actually that he just basically fall asleep and it wasn’t a case where had to make the decision. That helps some,” said Green.

Back in February, Misha’s brother KJ had to be euthanized after complications from kidney disease.

“They had been here a long time. They interacted with each other quite a bit. Of course, KJ with his tongue sticking out and KJ liked to play with his big red ball over the last year. They were both quite enjoyable for the public when they’d come watch them,” said Green.

Green says Misha has been getting extra care and checkups lately because he was showing signs of kidney issues.

The zoo will continue to work on renovations on the tiger exhibit, even though it will remain empty for now.

There will be new furniture and rock and climbing structures. The renovations will go on as planned starting Monday.

Green says the zoo will be working with the Tiger Species Survival Plan to get more tigers.

A necropsy on Misha is being performed at Cornell to determine cause of death.

KJ and Misha had called the Binghamton Zoo home for nearly a decadel

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