Animal Care Teams Address Additional Complications with Female Sibling

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is mourning the unexpected loss of female mountain lion, Sequoia, who passed away Sunday night after post-surgical complications from being spayed.

Because of Sequoia’s sudden, rare and unanticipated reaction to her recovery, veterinary staff suspected one potential cause may have been an allergy to her sutures. With genetic allergies in mind, CMZoo performed an additional examination yesterday on Sequoia’s sister, Adira, who had the same surgery earlier this month. During that examination – which was intended to give us a better look at how Adira is recovering from the surgery – we were pleased with her healing, but we saw, on x-ray, something that looks like wire or rope in Adira’s stomach. Further investigation will be required before we will know whether it may harm Adira.

The object may pass naturally. Adira’s best hope is to avoid another surgery while she’s still recovering from the first one. If the object is dangerous and Adira needs surgery to remove it, the risk of losing her is elevated, no matter what we do.

Sequoia and Adira were spayed on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020. The surgery requires incisions between the protective muscles on the animal’s abdomen. Although this is a common procedure, any surgery requiring anesthesia is complex and the recovery can run into complications, especially with wild animals that can’t be examined as closely in the days following surgery. Although complications are rare, they are possible, and can be very serious.

The animal care team made the decision to perform spay surgeries on Sequoia and Adira because unspayed big cats are more likely to experience health problems later in life, such as cancer and hormonal imbalance that can cause infection. The mountain lions also needed to be spayed to avoid attracting wild mountain lions to their exhibit during times of estrus, which can be dangerous for animals and our guests. Our third mountain lion sibling, male Sitka, was neutered on the same day that the females were spayed. The neutering procedure is less complex than the procedure for females, and Sitka appears to be recovering well.

“We first noticed swelling around Sequoia’s incision mid-last week, which isn’t unusual,” said Dr. Jon Romano, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo head veterinarian. “We treated her with anti-inflammatory medications and antibiotics and continued daily checks while limiting her physical activity. I personally assessed Sequoia on Saturday night and was satisfied with her progress. Sunday morning, we discovered her surgical site had opened up overnight.”

Sequoia’s team rushed her to the veterinary clinic, where they addressed her complications. She survived the emergency surgery, but remained in critical condition and unfortunately passed a few hours later.

“Sequoia’s passing has shocked us,” said Bob Chastain, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo president and CEO. “Even after 25 years in the profession, this doesn’t get easier. It is a reminder that no medical procedure is simple or without risk. As humans in this day of advanced medicine where miracles are performed every day, this is a sobering reminder.”

Sequoia made an enormous impact in her short life. She brought the CMZoo family and the Colorado Springs community a sense of hope and joy. We welcomed her to the Zoo, as she was taken in after being orphaned with her siblings in the wild. Our hearts melted when the kittens formed a relationship with aging mountain lion, “Grandma” Kaya, in her final months. And now, we mourn her together through this tragic chapter. Keepers will continue monitoring Sitka and Adira through their post-surgery recoveries.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s only mountain zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s hope that guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 233 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just a few operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues, special event attendance and donations for funding.

Colorado Springs, Colo. – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is mourning the loss of Kaya, a 13-year-old mountain lion who lived a long life at CMZoo after being orphaned in the wild in Wyoming in 2006. This summer, she again captured the hearts of guests when she earned the nickname ‘Grandma Kaya’ by embracing the presence of three young kittens who were also orphaned in the wild and came to live at CMZoo.

Kaya’s passing comes in the midst of a difficult week, medically, for several beloved animals at the Zoo. In the past several days, urgent or emergency procedures have been conducted not only on Kaya, but also on Roxie, our oldest Western lowland gorilla at age 43, and on Zwena, one of our two oldest African lion sisters at age 12. The team is cautiously optimistic about both Roxie and Zwena, although further complications are possible for both animals.

Kaya, who would have turned 14 in November, passed away overnight in her den. After a sudden change in her energy level late last week, Kaya then refused to eat or take medications, even her favorite treats: goat’s milk and fish. On Saturday morning, veterinary staff performed an emergency examination to try to pinpoint the issue and treat it.

During the examination, Kaya didn’t show any specific issues, so she was treated for potential dehydration and given medication to make her more comfortable. Following the treatment at the CMZoo vet clinic, Kaya appeared to have recovered well without any complications and returned to her den to rest. Sunday morning, keepers found that despite the team’s best efforts, Kaya had passed overnight.

Kaya was blind and had ongoing age-related arthritis. A recent blood draw showed signs of early kidney disease, which isn’t unusual for a cat of her age. She is believed to have passed of natural causes and general age-related issues.

Mountain lions are usually solitary in the wild, but Kaya and her brothers lived together for their entire lives. Kaya was the last remaining sibling. Yuma died in July 2016, Motega passed in February 2019, and CMZoo lost Tocho in April 2019. After Tocho’s passing, keepers and guests had questions about whether Kaya would do well in the mountainous three-yard mountain lion habitat without her brothers and the company they’d always provided.

Just one month later, CMZoo received a call from the mountain lion Species Survival Program (SSP). Three six-week-old mountain lion kittens had been found orphaned in Washington State and needed a home right away. Although for bittersweet reasons, CMZoo had room to take them.

“At that point, our focus was on providing a home for these kittens and on creating an environment where Kaya had the option to enjoy having mountain lion company again,” said Rebecca Zwicker, Rocky Mountain Wild animal care manager who worked with Kaya and her siblings for over ten years. “It was also an opportunity for these kittens to have an adult female mountain lion around, to be there with them in those tender first months when they were moving into this strange new world. Kaya really showed them the ropes of the exhibit.”

Zwicker recalls talking with her fellow Rocky Mountain Wild keepers about how the kittens — females Adira and Sequoia, and male Sitka — were learning from Kaya. They learned to explore the exhibit, where to find the best sunny nap spots, and how to approach Kaya.

“Their introduction went smoothly, but it wasn’t like they raced into each other’s paws,” said Zwicker. “The whole time we were planning their introductions we kept in mind that Kaya is blind, older, much bigger and a bit slower. Thirteen-year-old Kaya had to set some ground rules with these rambunctious kittens.”

After vocal warnings and a few light physical corrections from Kaya, the kittens learned it wasn’t in their best interest to surprise their blind cohabitant. Keepers noticed the kittens would approach her more slowly and with plenty of ‘chirps’ to let Kaya know they were coming. Once Kaya seemed to accept their presence, though, she would lie nearby while the kittens wrestled each other, and sometimes even got in on the fun.

Kaya was often seen navigating the rocky habitat, closely trailed by the kittens, and cuddling with them in the same sunny spot where she used to cuddle with her brothers. One day, keepers noticed Kaya had some wet, matted fur patches on her sides, legs and shoulders. They weren’t sure what was causing it, but then realized the kittens had been grooming Kaya. Grooming is often considered a sign that animals are comfortable around each other, and in some species is seen as a bonding activity.

“When Kaya accepted those kittens, those of us who had been working on the introductions knew it was just magic,” said Zwicker. “Kaya’s story is so powerful because it’s full-circle. We’ve seen her step into this world with her brothers as a young, unsure, orphaned kitten. We’ve seen her develop relationships with her keepers and grow up into a rock star trainee. We’ve seen her tenacity through the hardship of losing her eyesight. We’ve seen her lose her brothers one-by-one and witnessed her perseverance to continue training and stay engaged during the weeks she was alone in the habitat. To see her become ‘Grandma Kaya’ in her final months was like she’d completed the cycle. Those kittens were comfortable with her, and Kaya was an important piece of their world. She’s passed the torch, in a way. I just wish they – and we – could have had her a little longer.”

Keepers will closely monitor Sequoia, Adira and Sitka, who have returned to their normal behaviors. Keepers gave the kittens access to Kaya after she passed, so they had the opportunity to find closure.

“Sitka went into Kaya’s den and slowly approached her, sniffed her, gave her a chuff (a cat greeting), then chirped and lied down next to her,” said Zwicker. “After a few minutes, he went back outside to find his sisters, who were climbing up a branch against the glass viewing area, being their normal crazy selves. Things will be different for them without Kaya, but they have us and each other, so they’ll be okay.”

Having the young kittens inspires keepers to continue serving Kaya’s species and her legacy through this next generation of CMZoo mountain lions.

It’s the end of an era for Rocky Mountain Wild. As CMZoo says goodbye to the last of the first orphaned siblings, it’s heartwarming to know that the next generation of kittens had the chance to benefit from Kaya’s presence, and that they provided Kaya with cuddles, playtime and company during her final months.

About Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society was founded in 1926. Today, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, America’s mountain Zoo, offers comprehensive education programs, exciting conservation efforts and truly fantastic animal experiences. In 2019, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo was voted #6 Best Zoo in North America and CMZoo’s Rocky Mountain Wild was named #5 Best Zoo Exhibit in North America by USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. It is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s goal to help guests fall in love with animals and nature, and take action to protect them. Of the 233 zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of just ten operating without tax support. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo depends on admissions, membership dues, special event attendance and donations for funding.