In late March of this year, the Hattiesburg Zoo Animal Care staff noted that Kipling, the Zoo’s resident Sumatran Tiger, was exhibiting some signs of age-related health issues. The decision was made to remove him from his outdoor habitat for a period of time to allow for testing and medication administration. Since that time the animal care team has been closely monitoring him both day and night. The Zoo later shared an update on Kipling’s health, noting that he was experiencing good and bad days, and would be on exhibit for partial days while treatments and testing continued.
Over the past few weeks Kipling has been given access to both his outdoor habitat and his indoor enclosure as he wishes, so that he could decide his level of activity. Kipling is receiving medications to manage discomfort and he will continue to have access to both his outdoor and indoor spaces as he chooses.
Guests will notice that Kipling’s climbing platform has been modified to prevent him from jumping and injuring himself. Even at his advanced age he has the ability and desire to jump from the ground to the top platform, but doing so causes painful flexion and increases his risk of serious injury.
On April 20 th the Zoo’s veterinarian, animal curator, and the direct care team for Kipling reviewed the results from a CT scan and examination. While he is showing some improved
signs in the areas of weight gain and increased movement, he is also showing signs of age-related diminished function, which unfortunately cannot be reversed.
We are taking every measure to ensure Kipling is as comfortable and safe as possible as we transition him into hospice care. Quality-of-life assessments for Kipling began on Monday of
this week followed by the CT scan and examination on Wednesday. The quality-of-life assessments will continue and will help us measure his welfare, pain levels, and general health which in turn will guide us in managing his husbandry, and determining the next steps in his care.
