Snow leopard euthanized at Michigan zoo after cancer battle

GRAND RAPIDS – A Michigan zoo had to say goodbye to their 18-year-old snow leopard after her long battle with cancer.

John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids announced the sad news on Friday afternoon:

We are sad to announce today that Mi-Shan, the 18-year old snow leopard at John Ball Zoo, lost her long battle with cancer. She had ​been a resident of John Ball Zoo since she arrived in June of 2002, and she was a much loved member of the Zoo family during her fifteen years at John Ball Zoo. She was a spectacular animal. Her caretakers, the rest of the Zoo team, and the Zoo guests will miss her.

This week marked the end of one year of intensive treatment for her cancer. In 2016, the Zoo veterinary team diagnosed Mi-Shan with a type of cancer known as soft tissue sarcoma. The Zoo veterinary staff coordinated a plan for Mi-Shan's treatment. Unfortunately, the cancer became much more aggressive last week. This aggressive turn and its effect on Mi-Shan's quality of life led the veterinary and animal team to make the difficult decision to discontinue treatment and humanely euthanize her.

Mi-Shan was a wonderful ambassador for snow leopards in the wild, and her legacy will never be forgotten.