Pittsburgh Zoo's oldest tiger dies from hernia complications

The Pittsburgh Zoo lost another animal – its second in the past week.

Taiga, the zoo’s oldest male tiger, died Thursday afternoon due to “complications from a diaphragmatic hernia,” the Pittsburgh Zoo said in a release.

The zoo said Taiga had been “immobilized” Thursday morning for a declaw clip and had recovered from that routine procedure. Then, he suddenly passed away.

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Necropsy results showed Taiga had the hernia within his stomach and intestines in the chest cavity, which impeded his breathing, the release said.

The zoo said Taiga’s hernia had been present “for some time.” X-rays taken eight months ago showed no abnormalities in his chest.

Cox Media Group