It is with a heavy heart that we inform you that on Thursday 28th August we lost Baikal, the white tiger.
We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Baikal, our beautiful white tiger, who was put to sleep on Thursday evening following a decline in his health. In recent weeks, Baikal began to suffer from kidney failure, a condition common in older big cats.
Despite the dedicated care of our veterinary team and keepers, his kidneys could no longer function properly, meaning his body was unable to filter waste or maintain the balance it needed to keep him well. With no further treatment options that would have ensured him a good quality of life, the kindest decision was made to let him go peacefully.
Baikal arrived at Hertfordshire Zoo as a six-month-old cub and has been a much-loved part of our family ever since. He then arrived at the Sanctuary in 2018 and became a fan favourite amongst our team and guests. A gentle soul full of personality, he loved nothing more than roughhousing with his big blue barrels and greeting us with his deep, chesty chuff, a beautiful, friendly sound that will always be remembered.
He shared a special bond with Amasia, often seen nose to nose through the mesh, chuffing at each other. There aren’t many who could win Amasia’s seal of approval, and his presence will be dearly missed by all of us.
White tigers sadly don’t usually live as long as their orange counterparts, with an average lifespan of 12–15 years compared to 15–20, due to the genetics of their limited gene pool. Baikal lived a happy 14 years which were full of love and care. He brought joy to everyone who knew him.
Baikal was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.