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National Zoo says euthanized Sumatran tiger, Soyono, had spondylosis

November 25, 2012 - 04:15 pm

: Soyono was the oldest Sumatran tiger in the United States. Photo: National Zoo

As ABC7 reported on Monday, the National Zoo says one of its three Sumatran tigers was euthanized.

Sumatran tigers are among the rarest animals in the world, and at 19, Soyono was the oldest Sumatran tiger in the United States. She lived longer than most tigers do in the wild.

Soyono had developed a disease called spondylosis, vertebral arthritis.

Soyono was born at the zoo in 1993 and gave birth to seven cubs.

Her mate Rokan had to be euthanized in 2010, also at the age of 19.

The zoo's two remaining Sumatran tigers are Kavi, a male, and Damai, a female.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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Short URL: http://wj.la/WqMQrb

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