Seneca Park Zoo is grieving the loss of Katya, a 20-year-old Amur tiger who had been part of the zoo since birth and was the oldest living Amur tiger in any AZA-accredited zoo in North America.
Zoo officials announced Friday that Katya was humanely euthanized after her health rapidly declined earlier in the week due to chronic kidney disease and severe arthritis.
“Katya has been part of this Zoo since the day she was born,” said Zoo Director Bob Lee. “Her presence helped shape the experience of millions of guests and allowed us to tell the important story of Amur tigers—one of the world’s most endangered big cats.”
Katya was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in September, a common age-related condition in felines. Thanks to years of cooperative training with her animal care team, she participated in her own medical treatment, including blood draws, hydration therapy, and blood pressure checks. But despite these efforts, her condition worsened significantly in recent days.
By Friday morning, Katya was no longer standing except to drink water. Veterinary staff determined her quality of life had deteriorated too far and made the difficult decision to euthanize her.
Katya also lived with severe arthritis, which had progressed over the past year. She received regular laser therapy treatments, which she tolerated well.
As one of the zoo’s most iconic animals, Katya was a powerful ambassador for Amur tigers. Over her lifetime, she is estimated to have connected with more than 6 million guests, helping raise awareness about habitat loss, poaching, and the critical state of wild tiger populations—now estimated at fewer than 500 individuals.
The zoo is encouraging the public to share memories and photos of Katya on social media to honor her legacy and lifelong impact.
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