We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved, 17-year-old male jaguar, Jared.
In late May, Jared’s care team noticed a decline in his appetite, which grew more severe over several days. The team took immediate action to adjust Jared’s diet and hydration plan, but his appetite did not improve. To better understand the issue, the Zoo’s Animal Health and Animal Care teams conducted an exam and discovered that Jared was in renal (kidney) failure — a common disease for older cats both in the wild and in human care. After careful assessment of his health and quality of life, the decision was made to humanely euthanize Jared on Friday afternoon, June 5. At 17 years old, Jared had surpassed the average life span for jaguars in the wild (10-15 years).
Jared was born on May 22, 2009, at Erie Zoological Gardens in Pennsylvania. He came to the Saint Louis Zoo in 2015 from Louisville Zoo. In early mornings, Jared was often seen trotting proudly around his pool with a large bone or rolling in fresh-cut lemongrass (his favorite scent). He enjoyed long, lazy afternoons curled up in the shade or perched on top of his tower.
Jared will be greatly missed by his care team, Zoo community and all who knew him. We kindly ask that you keep Jared’s dedicated care team in your thoughts during this difficult time.
Our Zoo is committed to supporting jaguars through participation in the AZA Jaguar Species Survival Plan and SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) Program. Currently, there are no jaguars in need of placement through the AZA Jaguar SSP. The Zoo is still exploring new opportunities for the jaguar habitat. We will continue to work closely with the SSP and share updates about the future of the space.
