Australia’s oldest tiger Kemiri euthanised at Adelaide Zoo

AUSTRALIA’S oldest tiger Kemiri has been euthanised at Adelaide Zoo overnight.

AUSTRALIA’S oldest Sumatran tiger Kemiri has died at Adelaide Zoo overnight.

The 22-year-old tiger was humanely euthanised on Wednesday night after Adelaide Zoo staff decided her age-related maladies were affecting her quality of life.

Kemiri had been receiving treatment for arthritis and kidney issues.

Kemiri the Sumatran Tiger at the Adelaide Zoo. Picture: Adrian Mann.

Zoos SA senior veterinarian Dr Ian Smith says Sumatran tigers generally lived to be 12 years-old in the wild, and 20 years in captivity so for Kemiri to reach her 22nd birthday was an achievement.

“For a number of months, Kemiri had been suffering from a number of age-related conditions which the veterinary team had been treating, but over the past week her condition deteriorated,” Dr Smith said.

“The veterinary team decided that further medical treatment would not improve Kemiri’s quality of life.

“The difficult decision was made to humanely euthanise her, and although this is a sad loss for Adelaide Zoo, it was the best thing to do for Kemiri.”

Adelaide Zoo staff decided to humanely euthanise the 22-year-old.

Kemiri was one of only 400 Sumatran tigers left in the world.

The Sumatran tiger — who was one of the last in the world — was born at Taronga Zoo in 1994 before moving to Adelaide Zoo a year later.

She was the oldest Sumatran tiger in Australia.

“Kemiri’s biggest quirk was that she hated chicken, even a bucket that just had chicken in it before her normal red meat feed, she would turn her nose up at,” Carnivore keeper Matt Daly said.

“We were so lucky to have Kemiri with us for so long; she was playful and interactive with keepers throughout her years here at Adelaide Zoo and will be fondly remembered.”