NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Leaders with the Audubon Zoo announced the deaths of two cougars living at the institute.
On Thursday, March 28, Audubon leaders posted to social media that cougars Pontchartrain and Maurepas died at the age of 16, which is six years passed their typical life expectancy.
They stated that due to severe kidney disease and failure, the two were humanly euthanized. According to the Audubon, euthanasia is “extremely common” for big cats.
Pontchartrain and Maurepas arrived at Audubon Zoo in 2008 as three-month-old orphans.
Audubon leaders said the cats loved to lounge in the sun while snacking on their favorite foods beef tips and knuckle bones. They also loved to play with cabbage heads, shred boxes and rub all over stinky smells.
Zoo staff said Pontchartrain, a male, was more of a social butterfly with their keepers while Maurepas, a female, was the shy one.
The two are being remembered as good friends.
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