Statement - Passing of Omar the white tiger
9 Jun 2017
Whether lounging stylishly on his rocky outcrop or leaping elegantly into the water, Omar left an indelible memory in the minds of all who were awed by his regal stature. We will miss Omar, and our thoughts and appreciation go especially to his caregivers, who for so many years took such great care of him.
Photo credit: Wildlife Reserves Singapore
Omar had been managed on our senior animal care programme, where healthcare and welfare of our senior age animals are customised to promote longevity and quality of life.
Over the last three years, his team of keepers and veterinarians had been monitoring him closely for a melanoma (a type of skin cancer) and degeneration of his joints. They had been providing supportive care to him for the past few months to ensure his quality of life was maintained. Recent reassessment had seen worsening of his health and the difficult decision was made to euthanase him to prevent further deterioration of his quality of life.
Born under human care in Taman Safari, Indonesia, Omar had charmed guests since arriving in Singapore Zoo as a 19-month-old juvenile tiger on 6 April 2001. He would have turned 18 years old in September—an impressive age for a large cat. In the wild, tigers have an average lifespan of between 10 to 15 years while those under human care live 16 to 20 years on average.
We will miss Omar, and our thoughts and appreciation go especially to his caregivers, who for so many years took such great care of him.
Singapore Zoo is now home to two white tigers—Pasha and Keysa. The 4-year-old brother-sister duo arrived from Batu Secret Zoo in Indonesia on 15 January 2015.
