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STAR-ADVERTISER / 2007
Djelita, who turned 25 years old on March 26, was the world’s longest living Sumatran tiger in captivity.
A 25-year-old Sumatran tiger at the Honolulu Zoo was euthanized today due to complications from old age, city officials said.
Djelita, who turned 25 on March 26, was the oldest living tiger in captivity, according to a post on the zoo’s Facebook page.
“Old age catches up to everyone, even animals, and although Djelita had a long and healthy life at the zoo, she was displaying signs that led to a unanimous decision that she was ready to move on,” said Baird Fleming, director of the Honolulu Zoo.
“The Honolulu Zoo can be proud of its many years of excellent care for Djelita, which was part of a worldwide conservation effort to save Sumatran tigers from extinction.”
Djelita came to the Honolulu Zoo from the San Diego Wild Animal Park in 1992.
The Honolulu Zoo has two other Sumatran tigers, a male named Berani and a female named Chrissie. They are both 16 years old.
The life expectancy for Sumatran tigers is about 12 years in the wild and up to 20 years in zoos, according to the city.
“she was displaying signs that lead to a unanimous decision that she was ready to move on,”
really? what were the signs?
agree..sadly the Honolulu zoo lost its credibility when it could not find a real leader and lost its accreditation. Everything they do now will be questioned.
HONOLULU needs to create a “Wildlife Preserve” on Conservation lands that can be converted, if we want to have a venue for Locals, Families and Children, and Tourists. Caging these animals (wildlife) is INHUMANE. My CUZ was assistant Director of both LAX AND SFO ZOO. Years ago (..”many Moon’s ago”..) she housed, in her SFO apartment–four (4) newborn Tigers. I had an opportunity to bottle-nurse them for several months. “SWEET”! A “Wildlife Preserve”, in the long run, is less expensive to operate and provides more opportunities for all to see these animals in a more natural setting and creates more opportunities for related venues and human interaction. Call it a “PARK”; since HUGHES, et al will ultimately usurp our Parks.
hmm sounds better than hoopili
what signs were displayed?
Exactly. It would’ve been a more complete story if they listed the symptoms this animal was displaying for them to come to their decision to euthanize her. Still, its very sad.
I’m getting old too. When are they going to euthanize me?
I know its probably nothing but I saw your kids at the zoo, taking notes.
hahahahaha! take them out first!
Obamacare has a special plan for seniors just like you, justmyview371. You’ll either be permitted or denied medical treatment according to government life expectancy tables.
You’re lying about that, of course. But that’s what you do.
ahh lighten up klastri
Actually, medical treatment needs to be rationed because especially here in Hawaii, there is a shortage of physicians. The U.S. Government wants to spend less on Medicare, Medicaid, etc. Physicians receive less reimbursement from these programs than non-physician health providers, drug companies, etc. At the same time, more and more patients are being funneled into the existing shortage of physicians (veterans from the overloaded veteran medical facilities, military dependents, and various other persons needing medical care), patients insured under the ACA, etc. Because of low reimbursement rates, physicians are either quitting/retiring or closing their private practices and going to work for hospitals. Unfortunately, hospitals are also being short-changed. And here in Hawaii we have seen a number of hospitals going out of business or begging for more government assistance. This is the Perfect Storm.
I wished he was right. I would submit to mercy-killing. Old age is a punishment, I am feeling the first signs already. When is enough enough?
yikes..but what of tall,fertile, attractive Mandan huntresses?
Quit being so fertile!
Do you own a “Buffalo-Hide”? I still think you should create a “Buffalo-Hide” Beachwear Clothing-Line… (Maybe get the “Kardashians” to model and Kanye West to promote(?)) Even if the “Trend” only lasts two (2) years–you can sell the BIZ to an “Offshore Asian Group” and build “CONDO’s” on “Reservation-Lands”…
with low hanging testicles? cholo just barfed in his mouth
I wished I get euthanized when an old sick wreck. Seriously. Mercy for humans who want it.
If that’s the picture of the euthanized tiger, what a beautiful specimen of that breed! It would have been honorable to let her leave this world in her own time and way! She would have, in old age, let life quietly sipped away ,as all animal tend to do! Thanks Tiger, for living among us to enjoy your company – many children and adults too shared some of their dreams with you.
I agree only if she was not suffering. Yes, we all enjoyed her beauty.
Pretty idealized vision of what dying is. It’s painful, undignified and torture. You assume she was having a blast dying. I guarantee she wasn’t.
Or transferring the tiger to an animal sanctuary which let’s retired animals from zoos, circuses, etc., live out their lives in peace.
tigers locked up in small cages is a crime. its all about the money!
they should have bigger cages!
NO CAGES! We allow Politicians, Legislators, Council-Persons, to run around freely; so, why not ANIMALS?
Haven’t any of you ever had to put down a beloved pet? You complain because the article had an old file photo and didn’t go into great detail about loss of appetite, loss of control over body functions, pain and all the other infirmities of old age. Compassionate people have to deal with this reality and realize that the animals that depend on us during life also depend on us to end their suffering when the time comes.
Thank you Citizen X, it is often so hard to read comments from people who haven’t stopped a second to think about what they are writing down for the world to see. Ignorance in motion.
People are trying to have the same right to die without all the pain.
Well said.
Hag to do ut twice. It was the most humane thing to do.
When I show signs of aging are they going to euthanize me, too?
cholo rather die by anti-aircraft guns, with gangnum style music playing and psy dancing in the background, then feed cholo’s obliterated corpse to kim jong un as a tasty burrito. cholo will then reincarnate as the new supreme leader, go on a diet and reunite the koreas. all for the sake of humanity. cholo will keep the wife.
All depends on the supply of soylent green.
If you are older than 50, you are eligible for AARP membership. Most younger people consider you too old. Time to start worrying. But older people are extending their lives and careers longer with proper lifestyles and medical care including education.
You live in the zoo?
Hey, the City still has rail!
it’ll finally be put into service late 2022 then pronounced insolvent 2025. what a waste