Jaya, Point Defiance tiger, critically ill
Jaya, one of the first Sumatran tigers to come to Tacoma, is critically ill, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium has announced.
The 13-year-old mother of four litters has an aggressive bacterial infection, inflaming her liver and gastrointestinal tract. She has been anesthetized to make sure she gets the necessary medication, fluid and nutrients.
The zoo put Jaya under anesthesia last week after she showed signs of illness. When she stopped eating, the zoo found the bacterial infection.
“When cats stop eating and aren’t very responsive, we know something is very wrong,” general curator Karen Goodrowe Beck said in a release Wednesday.
The zoo moved its hospital operation to the Asian Forest Sanctuary to monitor Jaya around the clock.
She is one of six Sumatran tigers at the zoo — including her 2014 triplets, Kirana Indah and Dari — and 70 in North American zoos, according to the release. About 300 remain in the wild on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Kenny Ocker: 253-597-8627, @KennyOcker
This story was originally published April 27, 2016 at 6:15 PM with the headline "Jaya, Point Defiance tiger, critically ill."