Toronto Zoo devastated after ‘beloved’ 2-year-old tiger dies from tragic fall

The Toronto Zoo is mourning the sudden death of a two-year-old female Amur tiger, who moved away from her mother in Toronto earlier this year.

Mila was moved from the Toronto Zoo to Colorado in March on a future breeding recommendation and after showing signs that she was ready for her own space. The tiger had not been introduced to the public yet as the zoo was still adjusting her to her new habitat and needed to address a dental issue.

After the zoo staff administered anesthesia, they said Mila was resting on a bench to lay down and let the anesthetic drugs take effect peacefully.

Less than a minute after lying down, the zoo said Mila slipped off the waist-high bench, causing a fatal spinal injury. She passed away on August 25.

Dr. Eric Klaphake, head veterinarian at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, said the young Amur tiger could have slid off from that height “a hundred times” and landed in various other positions and been unaffected.

“The team quickly entered her den when it was safe and diligently tried for 40 minutes to give her life-saving care,” Dr. Klaphake said.

Toronto Zoo, community mourning Mila’s passing: CEO

Amur tigers are critically endangered in the wild, with only around 500 individual tigers roaming their native habitats.

A Toronto Zoo spokesperson said while both teams work through the loss, Colorado’s Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is “focused on preventing this freak accident from happening in the future.”

“It is sobering to know that no matter how tragic these events are, we are losing tigers in the wild every day as these animals, and many like them, struggle to survive in a world where there are so many people and so few wild places,” said Bob Chastain, President of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

“Despite the best professional care that we give these animals, accidents can happen and will happen as long as there is a critical need for conservationists to help highly endangered species survive in human care and in the wild.”

Toronto Zoo CEO Dolf DeJong said the Toronto community is struggling to come to terms with Mila’s sudden passing.

“She will be deeply missed by all, and while we feel certain the connections she made with guests will stay with them for a lifetime and were an inspiration to get involved in the fight to save this endangered species in the wild. We are deeply saddened by her loss,” DeJong said.

“We feel a huge responsibility for all of the animals in our care, and we especially feel for Mila, her current and past caretakers and the people in Toronto who loved her from birth as the only survivor in her litter,” Chastain added.

Memorial being held in Mila’s honour

The Toronto Zoo said it’s holding a memorial for Mila from August 31 through the long weekend from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., inviting guests to leave a message or favourite memory of the beloved Mila at the Amur Tiger habitat.

A spokesperson said that while many have expressed a desire to bring flowers to the zoo, staff are asking community members for a donation in Mila’s honour.

“Her playful and endearing nature touched many lives and inspired people to fight for the survival of this endangered species in the wild,” the Toronto Zoo said in an email.

“Together with Mila’s Toronto Zoo Wildlife Care team, we’ve established the Mila Memorial Fund through the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy’s Wilding Fund — a fund established to support endangered species conservation projects in the wild. Proceeds from Mila’s Memorial Fund will support her counterparts in the wild.”

The zoo is also creating a Mila Memory Message Board at the Amur Tiger habitat that people can visit starting Thursday through the long weekend from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

“Out of respect for grieving Wildlife Care staff, while visiting the habitat in the coming days, we ask that guests refrain from approaching the staff with questions about Mila to give the time and space they need to process this heartbreaking news.”