There is only one tiger left at the Saint-Félicien zoo, in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, following the death of the female Kouma, who passed away on July 12 afflicted by the disease.

The mammal suffered from an inflammation of the intestine. Over the past few months, his diet had been changed to allow him to better digest protein. She only ate duck, no pork, no beef or horse protein.

"A tiger eats 10 to 15 pounds of meat," said the director of the zoo's Living Collections, Joanie Boudreault. "Can you imagine the amount of duck we had to get...", she added.

The zoo is awaiting the results of the necropsy to learn more about the cause of death.

“The liver was affected, the intestine inflamed, the duodenum congested, listed the director. Why all these organ changes? This is what remains to be clarified.”

Already last year, Kouma's mother, also from the habitat of Saint-Félicien, had passed away at the age of 14 from almost similar causes.

The zoo is now looking to recruit a new resident, in conjunction with the Global Endangered Species Programme. The last tiger in place is a 14-year-old male.

"We are not expecting an answer in the coming weeks," said Joanie Boudreault. Genetic background will be an essential criterion.

The next tiger, whether male or female, will come from another zoo.