Beloved Leopard, Zoya, Dies At Living Desert Zoo And Gardens

PALM DESERT, CA — This week, the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens announced the loss of their beloved Amur leopard, Zoya, in an Instagram announcement.

On Wednesday, the 21-year-old leopard died, a spokesperson said. An official statement from the zoo reads:

“It comes with deep sadness from all of us at The Living Desert as we share the news that Zoya, the much-loved, twenty-one-year-old Amur leopard, has passed away.

Zoya was a beloved Amur leopard who lived at The Living Desert for 11 years. Her lush habitat mimicked her natural environment, so spotting Zoya could sometimes be a challenge! She enjoyed being up high on the high rocks, where she could watch the warthogs and guests; and she loved laying on her rock overlooking the pond in the mornings. Amur leopards are listed as critically endangered on the IUCN list making this species one of the rarest cats on Earth. At 21 years old, Zoya exceeded both the life expectancy of Amur leopards in the wild (10-15 years) and in human care (15-20 years) and was one of the oldest leopards in human care in the country.

Though every story has an end, we know that Zoya’s story will live on in our hearts. Her calm and majestic demeanor gave a sense of awe-inspiring serenity. Her engagements with guests helped to share the story of the vulnerable Amur leopard species each day. As we celebrate Zoya’s life, we encourage you to enjoy the little things in life – as she did. Spend some time observing your natural surroundings. Be playful. Appreciate those special, tranquil moments throughout the day.”

The zoo spokesperson said they would pause posting over social media for a few days.

They invite all to share favorite memories of Zoya or kind words with our animal care and veterinary teams by leaving a message or visiting Zoya’s habitat, where cards will be available for signing.