Animal Diagnosis Inst: Bucharest Zoo Runaway Jaguar Died Of Stress

The experts ruled out other possible death causes, including strangulation or death by asphyxia, and said Bety the jaguar died due to stress following capture maneuvers conducted by the caretakers.

Earlier this month, Police established that the net around Bety’s was weakened because it was very old, and no foul play was involved in the animal’s breakout attempt.

Bety the jaguar, aged two, born and raised in captivity, managed to escape its cage late November. Visitors were immediately evacuated.

The zoo general manager told the media one of the stray dogs that hang around the zoo rushed to the feline barking, and the jaguar killed it. Zoo caretakers and a veterinarian tried to tranquilize the feline but failed, and then tried to capture it with nooses. The jaguar died shortly afterwards.

Foul play was initially suspected in the animal’s breakout attempt, as the land hosting the zoo is very valuable to real estate developers.

Bucharest general mayor Adriean Videanu said in November that the destination of the land would remain unchanged at least as long as he is mayor.

The Bucharest zoo stretches on six hectares in the city’s northern area.