Farewell to our beloved Sumatran tiger, Puna 🧡

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Puna, our beloved Sumatran tiger, passed away on Wednesday 14th May. Puna was our oldest resident, just shy of her 21st birthday, an exceptional age for any big cat. Puna was the second-oldest Sumatran tiger in Europe! She was one of the original cats for many of our team, a lasting memory of our early days when we started as the Wildlife Heritage Foundation in 2000. Puna was the epitome of what a Sumatran tiger should be. Her striking markings, sleek coat, and bright amber eyes could take your breath away. These stunning features helped to make her the perfect ambassador for what is a Critically Endangered subspecies of tiger. In her later years, Puna naturally began to slow down and was closely monitored by our keepers and vets. She experienced spinal stiffness and other age-related issues typical in elderly cats. Despite various treatments, we made the difficult decision alongside our vets to let her go peacefully. Puna will always be remembered as the beautiful and affectionate queen of the Sanctuary. Her legacy lives on in the hearts of all who knew her.