Norristown Zoo's cougar euthanized due to illness
Elmwood Park Zoo says Thor, a 17-year-old male, was suffering from seizures and a degenerative spine disease.
Staff at Elmwood Park Zoo today said a sad goodbye to their 17-year-old male cougar, Thor.
Thor, who had been at the Norristown zoo since 20113, was suffering from seizures and a degenerative spine disease, according to a zoo press release. His condition worsened and he was euthanized Wednesday morning.
According to the Oregon Zoo, cougars usually live about 10 years in the wild and up to 20 years in captivity.
Our condolences to the staff and visitors who loved Thor. Here's the rest of the zoo's press release:
Thor was born in captivity in January 1996. He arrived at the Elmwood Park Zoo from the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve in Catoctin, Maryland in August 2003. Thor was placed on exhibit the following April and was an instant favorite among the staff and guests.
Thor was paired in his exhibit with a female cougar named Aurora. The large cats were spayed and neutered so they were not meant to breed. The pair could often be seen sunning themselves on the rocks, or stalking the edge of their exhibit only a few feet away from the guests lined up to see them.
Elmwood Park Zoo Executive Director Al Zone said, "Any time one of our animals passes away, it's sad for the staff, our members, and our guests. Thor was a special part of our Zoo and he will be greatly missed."
The Elmwood Park Zoo has no immediate plans to add another cougar to their existing exhibit, but it is working on a major capital project that would include a renovation to all of the Zoo's large cat exhibits.