ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A 12-year-old female jaguar at the Albuquerque zoo has been euthanized because she had cancer.
Zoo officials say cancer was first detected in Merlina's mammary glands July. They say she started showing signs of discomfort this week and that tests determined the disease had spread to her brain and lungs.
. She was euthanized Thursday. Zoo officials previously performed two surgeries to remove tumors
The zoo's head veterinarian, Dr. Ralph Zimmerman, says Merlina was doing well until she started showing signs of head tremors and other symptoms earlier this week.
Jaguars are large cats that can live up to 15 years.
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