19-Year-Old White Tiger 'Sameer' Dies at Tirupati Zoo After Long Battle with Age-Related Illness

According to zoo officials, Sameer's health had been deteriorating over recent months. (Representational)

Tirupati:

A 19-year-old white tiger named 'Sameer' passed away at Sri Venkateshwara Zoological Park in Tirupati on Sunday due to complications related to old age.

Sameer had been transferred to Sri Venkateshwara (SV) Zoological Park from Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad in 2011 when he was five years old.

In an official statement, Tirupati Zoo's curator Selvam expressed: "It is with profound sadness that the management of the SV Zoological Park announces the death of our senior white tiger, Sameer, approximately 19 years of age."

Selvam explained that Sameer had been receiving intensive medical care for age-related health issues, with his condition progressively worsening over the past three months, eventually resulting in complete immobility.

Despite continuous monitoring and dedicated attention from the zoo's veterinary team and animal caretakers, Sameer's condition could not be improved, and he died on Sunday morning.

The curator further stated that a post-mortem examination conducted by specialists from SV Veterinary University in Tirupati determined the cause of death to be Hydro Nephrosis, complicated by old age factors, which aligned with typical age-related health conditions.

Selvam noted that Sameer had been a cherished resident who had delighted visitors for more than a decade, and his absence would be deeply felt by both staff members and the public.