The Hattiesburg Zoo’s lone tiger has passed away.
Zoo officials announced Wednesday the passing of Bunga, a Malayan tiger, who was “humanely euthanized” by an in-house veterinary team on Tuesday following a rapid decline in his health.
On Monday, Bunga’s care team observed that he remained lethargic throughout the day. By Tuesday morning, his condition worsened as he showed no interest in food, a marked departure from his typical behavior, officials said.
Out of concern for his condition, veterinarian Julia MacGregor elected to sedate Bunga to conduct further diagnostic testing. During the examination, the team discovered fluid accumulation around Bunga’s heart and lungs, a serious and life-threatening condition. Given the severity of the findings and Bunga’s declining state, the decision was made to prevent further suffering.
Bunga had been diagnosed with hypertension as well as disc disease in recent weeks and was undergoing treatment to manage his condition. While he initially showed some improvement, his health deteriorated rapidly in the days leading up to his passing.
“Bunga was an extraordinary animal and an important ambassador for his species,” Hattiesburg Zoo director of wildlife Kristen Moore said. “He touched the lives of countless guests and staff members, and his presence will be deeply missed.”
As a Malayan tiger, Bunga played a vital role in raising awareness about the conservation challenges facing his species in the wild. Malayan tigers are critically endangered with fewer than 150 currently estimated to be in their natural habitat.
The average lifespan of a Malayan tiger is between 10 to 15 years in the wild. Bunga was just eight days shy of 15 years of age and came to the Hattiesburg Zoo in October 2023
