Oldest inhabitant at big cat sanctuary dies

Petra, who died aged 21, was the only lynx at The Big Cat Sanctuary

The oldest inhabitant at a Kent-based animal conservation project has died.

Petra, a 21-year-old Eurasian lynx at The Big Cat Sanctuary, in Smarden, was put to sleep on Wednesday due to seizures and arthritis.

She joined the sanctuary aged seven after previously being an animal actor.

A sanctuary spokesperson said Petra had been "the most incredible, beautiful, and completely charming example of how a lynx can be".

The sanctuary said Petra "had been treated for seizures for some time, and with her advancing age had started to develop arthritic changes in her spine".

The team said they had been able to treat her with medication and had kept her stable and comfortable for a number of years.

But recently keepers found they could "no longer maintain her welfare and it was fairest to put her to sleep", the sanctuary said.

Petra was the only lynx at the centre and was the human equivalent of 100 years old.

"This is a very difficult time for us as Petra has been part of the family for so long", the sanctuary spokesperson added.