Leopard dies of old age at Visakhapatnam zoo

A 20-year-old leopard named ‘Sudha’, died at Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP) at around 7.30 p.m. on Thursday, the officials have said.

Sudha was rescued from Thimmapuram village in Rushikonda Reserve Forest area on January 30, 2008 when she was three years old and brought to the zoo. “Sudha completed her 20-year life span at the zoo,” the officials said in a release on Friday.

The leopard died of a severe myocardial infarction due to senility, the official said while quoting the postmortem report submitted by the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon of the zoo. The average lifespan of a leopard in the wild is around 12 to 15 years. However, under the care of the zoo staff, Sudha lived 20 years, they added.