The Hattiesburg Zoo announced the death of Maya, a 21-year-old jaguar, on Wednesday, March 19, following a battle with kidney disease and age-related health complications. After careful monitoring and evaluation, the zoo's animal care team made the decision to administer life-ending treatment to Maya, prioritizing her comfort and well-being.
Maya had been a resident of the Hattiesburg Zoo since 2016, when she arrived from the Memphis Zoo. She was a favorite among both visitors and staff, known for her playful spirit and interactions with children through the glass of her habitat. She also eagerly participated in training sessions with her keepers.
In January, Maya was diagnosed with kidney disease and began receiving treatment to manage her symptoms. Although she initially responded well, her health declined in recent weeks. Maya began to show signs of stiffness, immobility, and a loss of interest in her usual outdoor activities.
“With her advanced age and kidney disease, we spent a long time evaluating her quality of life,” said Kristen Moore, Director of Animal Care at the Hattiesburg Zoo. “She has become much more subdued and not able to do the things she once loved.”
Before her passing, zoo staff gathered to celebrate Maya's upcoming 22nd birthday. They decorated her habitat with Taylor Swift-inspired signs and streamers, and prepared a special "birthday cake" for her.
“We spent a lot of time celebrating her life and giving her all of her favorite things,” said Moore. “Think about how you would spend the last days with a beloved pet. That is almost exactly what we do as well.”
Maya played a key role in educating the public about jaguar conservation and left a lasting impression on many visitors.
“Maya was beautiful and graceful, and my children and I would oftentimes just sit there for minutes at a time watching her move around her enclosure,” said Grant Douglas, a frequent visitor of the Hattiesburg Zoo. “It would just make our zoo trip that much brighter.”
The zoo has set up a space in front of the jaguar habitat where visitors can leave flowers and photos in Maya's memory. An animal autopsy will be performed to gather additional information about her health, and the zoo will continue working with the Jaguar Species Survival Program to determine the future of its jaguar exhibit.
