Arabian sand cat dies suddenly at El paso Zoo.

The El Paso Zoo is mourning the loss of 17-year-old Arabian sand cat, Naiade.

She died on Dec. 14 and had lived at the El Paso Zoo since May 2008.

Naiade was the oldest sand cat in Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) facilities in the United States.

Zoo officials say Naiade had a history of several medical conditions and bouts with illness, but and at the time of her death, she was not symptomatic.

“Even though she was quite an old cat, Naiade’s sudden loss was a surprise to us all. She had several medical conditions that were being successfully managed and she seemed to be doing well,” said Dr. Victoria Milne, Zoo Veterinarian.

Keepers say that Naiade was very sweet and had a very serene demeanor. She was very smart and was great when working with trainers during positive reinforcement training sessions. She was also very inquisitive to new things and keepers were always greeted by her at her door waiting for her morning meal.

“Our staff is very saddened by this loss. Naiade’s keepers have built a close bond with her over the years and they miss her terribly. We built an extra close bond with her due to extra care required for her age,” Griselda Martinez, Collections Supervisor.

Final necropsy reports may help to determine her cause of death.

Arabian sand cats are listed as “near threatened” in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Source: El Paso Zoo