Endangered red wolf dies after sudden illness at Point Defiance zoo

A sudden illness killed an endangered red wolf Tuesday at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.

The zoo said the 11-year-old female wolf, Havana, had gastrointestinal problems last week, and caretakers noticed she was lethargic Monday evening.

Head veterinarian Karen Wolf said tests showed the wolf’s kidneys were compromised, and she got worse and died Tuesday morning. A necropsy has not yet determined the cause of her death.

Red wolves are native to the southeastern United States. Their median life expectancy is about 10 years. About 75 to 100 are still in the wild.

There are four left at the Tacoma zoo.

This story was originally published February 24, 2015 at 8:44 PM with the headline "Endangered red wolf dies after sudden illness at Point Defiance zoo."