Miller Park Zoo announced Friday the deaths of 9-year-old Nozomi, a Pallas's cat, and a 9-year-old red panda named China.
Both animals were suffering from separate health issues, the zoo said.
China was born on July 17, 2017, and was euthanized following an incurable adrenal
disorder discovered in July. China's brother, Burma, died of a similar condition in 2024. The disease is known to affect red pandas, the zoo said, which are endangered due to habitat loss, poaching and illegal capture.
Both were part of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums' Species Survival Plan. In a press release, Miller Park Zoo said it plans to bring a new red panda to the zoo through that program. There is no current plan to replace a Pallas's cat.
Nozomi was born April 20, 2017, at a zoo in Fargo, North Dakota. The Pallas's cat had been receiving care for neurological issues since July.
Staff said both animals' health had begun to decline after lengthy treatments and monitoring had been administered.
A Pallas's cat typically lives between 8 to 11 years in captivity while the red panda can live 12 to 15 under human care.
Earlier this year, another favorite animal among zoo patrons, the 19-year-old Sumatran tiger Rojo, died of renal disease. These are the first deaths reported by the zoo since Paul Bouseman was appointed as its new director in June.
