Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington has humanely euthanized two animals following separate health complications.
China, a red panda, was diagnosed in July with an incurable adrenal deficiency disorder. Despite medication and close veterinary monitoring, her condition worsened rapidly this week, leaving zoo staff with no further treatment options.
Nozomi, a Pallas’s cat, had been receiving veterinary care for neurological symptoms since early July. Her condition continued to decline despite extensive efforts to diagnose and treat the illness.
China was born June 17, 2017, and had been a longtime resident of the zoo. Nozomi was born April 20, 2017, at the Red River Zoo in Fargo, North Dakota. She later became a familiar favorite among visitors after moving to Miller Park Zoo’s ZooLab.
The zoo plans to welcome another red panda through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Red Panda Species Survival Plan. There are currently no plans to bring another Pallas’s cat to the facility.
Red pandas are classified as endangered, facing threats from habitat loss, poaching and illegal capture. Pallas’s cats are native to mountainous shrublands and grasslands across Asia, where habitat fragmentation is an increasing concern.
Miller Park Zoo officials say they are supporting staff following the losses and appreciate the community’s understanding and support.
