Beloved 17-Year-Old Cougar Passes Away At Elmwood Park Zoo

NORRISTOWN, PA -- A beloved fixture at Norristown's Elmwood Park Zoo has passed away.

Aurora, a cougar, was euthanized on Wednesday, November 2, the zoo said. She was suffering from kidney failure, degenerative joint disease, and senility.

Aurora was 17-years-old.

“She never would have survived in the wild past a few months of age. Her
blindness would have rendered her near helpless,” said Adam Denish,
Elmwood Park Zoo’s veterinarian, in a statement. “With surgery, she regained her vision for most of her life.”

The zoo released the following obituary for Aurora:

"Born on May 5, 1999, Aurora and her brother Mankato arrived at EPZ from the Minnesota Zoo on June 5, 1999. After noticing differences in Aurora's behavior, animal care staff discovered she was nearly blind due to bilateral cataracts, a condition most likely caused by a prenatal infection. It was exactly 17 years ago, on November 2, 1999, that Aurora underwent a successful cataract surgery at the University of Pennsylvania's veterinary hospital. She was able to maintain a portion of her eyesight and had the chance to live far longer at the zoo than she ever would have in the wild. As a guest favorite and a mainstay at EPZ for close to two decades, Aurora’s loss will be deeply felt by staff and guests."

Rest in peace, Aurora.

Patch file photo.