Wildlife park mourns 'strong and loveable' tiger

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".

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

"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".

"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] breeding programme.

"I know she will be dearly missed by visitors and staff alike."