Saying Goodbye to ‘Odin’

Saying goodbye to the animals we love and care for is always difficult, but it is especially so when they have been a member of our zoo family for a long time. Earlier this month, we said farewell to our beloved male cougar, ‘Odin’.

At 15.5 years old, Odin was considered geriatric for his species. In recent years, he had been under the diligent care of our Animal Care, Health, & Welfare (ACHW) team for age-related health challenges like progressive kidney disease and stiffness associated with arthritis. Although he responded well to this care for the past 1.5 years, he recently started to show signs of increased difficulty when moving around and decreased muscle mass. When his well-being began to rapidly decline, the ACHW team made the compassionate decision that euthanasia was in his best interest. Odin’s necropsy confirmed the progression of degenerative changes to his kidneys, to multiple joints, and his spine.

Odin came to the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo from a BC wildlife rescue facility in 2010 after being orphaned in the wild in 2009. With the median life expectancy of male cougars in human care being 13.6 years, Odin’s advanced age at the time of his passing reflects the exemplary care he received from our ACHW team throughout his golden years.

This big cat leaves behind a big legacy here in Calgary and beyond, having touched the hearts of staff, volunteers, and visitors throughout his long life with us. Please keep Odin’s dedicated care team in your thoughts during this difficult time.