Sherkan, the famous white tiger of Beauval Zoo, is dead

On Wednesday September 9, the emblematic white tiger of ZooParc de Beauval was euthanized, the animal park announced on Friday. Sherkan was born on June 3, 2002 at the Touroparc de Romanèche-Thorins (Saône-et-Loire), before joining the zoo of Saint-Aignan (Loir-et-Cher) in 2005. According to the latter, "his physique and his presence" had made "an essential animal" for visitors.

Sherkan turned 18 last June, and had been on treatment since 2015. The Tiger "suffered from severe osteoarthritis for several years", especially in the hips and spine. "Since the beginning of the implementation of the treatments, his carers and the team of veterinarians take stock every week on the evolution of his condition based on objective criteria such as the amount of food eaten or the time spent. outside, etc. but also on more subjective criteria such as the feelings that the caretakers and veterinarians who know it and are used to observing it may have ", explains Beauval ZooParc on its website.

Sherkan's state of health seemed to be deteriorating for some time. "despite the daily treatments: he moved a lot less and he no longer reacted to the enrichments offered by animal handlers and veterinarians". "Sherkan moved less, went out of his house less, he had more and more difficulty taking his treatments, and when he moved, his movements seemed more and more painful, despite the treatments.", indicates the zoo, pointing out that, from the height of his 18 years, it was "an already very old tiger". This is why it was decided to end his suffering: "After consultation between the teams, it was decided to end his suffering and to euthanize him, a decision taken with sorrow but a necessary one."

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Video by Loïcia Fouillen

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