Rare leopard with kidney disease euthanized at Oregon zoo

PORTLAND – Oregon zoo officials say a rare leopard was euthanized at the zoo in Portland after a decline due to her advanced age.

Zoo officials said the Amur leopard named Kia died Tuesday.

Officials say the 20-year-old leopard was the oldest in any facility accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and may have been the oldest anywhere.

She was born in October 1995 and moved from Pennsylvania’s Erie Zoo to Portland in 2007. Kia raised nine cubs.

Zoo officials say she had kidney disease and that her condition was deteriorating.

Officials say there are fewer than 300 of the big cats, native to southeastern Russia, left in the world.

Zoos in North America and Europe are participating in coordinated breeding programs to help preserve the subspecies.