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| Wildlife park mourns 'strong and loveable' tiger | Wildlife park mourns 'strong and loveable' tiger |
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| A zoo is mourning the death of a 21-year-old Sumatran tiger who made worldwide headlines. | A zoo is mourning the death of a 21-year-old Sumatran tiger who made worldwide headlines. |
| Shepreth Wildlife Park in Cambridgeshire said Ratna was "put to rest" on Tuesday after her health and mobility challenges could no longer "be managed compassionately". | Shepreth Wildlife Park in Cambridgeshire said Ratna was "put to rest" on Tuesday after her health and mobility challenges could no longer "be managed compassionately". |
| She arrived at the park in 2019, having been rehomed with her daughter, Kelabu, after a long and celebrated residency at Chessington in south-west London. | She arrived at the park in 2019, having been rehomed with her daughter, Kelabu, after a long and celebrated residency at Chessington in south-west London. |
| In 2021, she made headlines as the first tiger to undergo corneal surgery, a groundbreaking procedure that saved her eye. | In 2021, she made headlines as the first tiger to undergo corneal surgery, a groundbreaking procedure that saved her eye. |
| Native only to the Indonesian island after which the species is named, the Sumatran tiger is critically endangered | Native only to the Indonesian island after which the species is named, the Sumatran tiger is critically endangered |
| Dr David Williams from the Queen's Veterinary School Hospital at the University of Cambridge, performed the surgery, which was a world first for a big cat. | Dr David Williams from the Queen's Veterinary School Hospital at the University of Cambridge, performed the surgery, which was a world first for a big cat. |
| He said: "Ratna was an incredible patient. | He said: "Ratna was an incredible patient. |
| "Seeing her recover and flourish after her surgery was truly rewarding. She was a testament to the resilience and beauty of her species." | "Seeing her recover and flourish after her surgery was truly rewarding. She was a testament to the resilience and beauty of her species." |
| While at the Shepreth, near Royston, Ratna played a pivotal role in the park's educational and conservation efforts. | While at the Shepreth, near Royston, Ratna played a pivotal role in the park's educational and conservation efforts. |
| The wildlife park said with fewer than 600 Sumatran tigers left in the wild, it would continue its mission to raise awareness and support conservation efforts. | The wildlife park said with fewer than 600 Sumatran tigers left in the wild, it would continue its mission to raise awareness and support conservation efforts. |
| Director of Shepreth Wildlife Park, Rebecca Willers, said: "We have cared for tigers for nearly a quarter of a century, but saying goodbye to them never gets easier. | Director of Shepreth Wildlife Park, Rebecca Willers, said: "We have cared for tigers for nearly a quarter of a century, but saying goodbye to them never gets easier. |
| "Ratna had an incredibly strong and loveable character; she will not be forgotten. | "Ratna had an incredibly strong and loveable character; she will not be forgotten. |
| "Her lasting legacy will be all the tigers she helped save in the wild, thanks to the awareness and funds we have been able to raise as a result of caring for these beautiful creatures." | "Her lasting legacy will be all the tigers she helped save in the wild, thanks to the awareness and funds we have been able to raise as a result of caring for these beautiful creatures." |
| Co-curator at and head of the carnivore section at the park, Dean Ward, said working with the tiger had been a "blessing". | Co-curator at and head of the carnivore section at the park, Dean Ward, said working with the tiger had been a "blessing". |
| "She had a beautiful character, always ready with a greeting in the mornings and always a chuff to say goodnight at the end of the day," Mr Ward said. | "She had a beautiful character, always ready with a greeting in the mornings and always a chuff to say goodnight at the end of the day," Mr Ward said. |
| "To reach 21 was an achievement and we were so proud of her role as an ambassador through education of the population decline of tigers across Asia, as well as being a fantastic mum in the EEP [European Association of Zoos and Aquaria Ex-situ Programme, external] breeding programme. | "To reach 21 was an achievement and we were so proud of her role as an ambassador through education of the population decline of tigers across Asia, as well as being a fantastic mum in the EEP [European Association of Zoos and Aquaria Ex-situ Programme, external] breeding programme. |
| "I know she will be dearly missed by visitors and staff alike." | "I know she will be dearly missed by visitors and staff alike." |
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