It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Ta’iri, our beloved male North Chinese leopard.
Born at Menagerie Zoo du Jardin des Plantes in Paris in May 2006, Ta’iri came to The Big Cat Sanctuary in March 2008. Over the years, he became a striking presence at the Sanctuary, embodying the elusive and mysterious nature, typical of leopards worldwide.
Ta’iri often preferred the solitude of high vantage points, watching the world while remaining unseen himself. When he did allow us a glimpse, it was usually to showcase his impressive teeth or his long, elegant whiskers—some of the longest of any of the cats on site. His radiant golden-orange coat, covered with black rosettes, would shimmer in the sunlight as he lounged on a platform but also provided perfect camouflage as he disappeared into the foliage of his habitat.
For many years, Ta’iri shared his home adjacent to Atara, our female North Chinese leopard. Although they were a strong genetic match as part of the European breeding programme, love wasn’t in the air for the two feisty individuals as a breeding pair. Nonetheless, Ta’iri served as an extraordinary ambassador for his endangered subspecies, raising awareness about North Chinese leopards, of which only a couple of hundred remain in the wild.
In recent months, our dedicated keepers noticed that Ta’iri was finding it increasingly difficult to navigate his enclosure due to a decline in his eyesight. Despite modifications to his environment and close monitoring, it became clear that his quality of life was compromised. After careful consideration, the difficult decision was made to put Ta’iri to sleep.
Ta’iri was a magnificent leopard whose beauty, strength, and unique personality touched everyone who encountered him. He will be deeply missed at the Sanctuary.