West Bend, Wisconsin – On Saturday, the Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary made an unexpected farewell to a beloved mother tiger named Ginger. The big cat had been suffering with an upper respiratory infection and her condition quickly deteriorated.
In a June 27 social media post, the Sanctuary said:
Dear Shalom Family our beloved Ginger became an angel late this afternoon at 5:45pm.
This morning when I arrived all 4 cubs were resting next to each other outside the den door. Normally when Sienna and Kona hear my golf cart coming they hi-tail it out to the big area with the pond, but not today.
When I opened the door to see Ginger, it was obvious that her condition had taken a big turn for the worse. It appeared that she was in her final hours.
Describing her last moments with her cubs:
All the cubs came in one by one to say their goodbye. Reina and I stayed with her the entire day talking with her and telling her how much we loved her.
At about 5 pm Reina sensed something and wanted to leave the den as so I let her out. She joined her siblings on top of the hill.
At 5:15pm Ginger gained her strength and stood up; she entered the holding area and then went out to the green grass. Shortly thereafter, with all the cubs and Charlotte together watching mom, Ginger laid her head down and stopped breathing.
Ginger is now at peace playing with Nina, Khan, and Goliath in a place called Heaven.
Thank you for all your prayers. God needed her more.
Rest in Peace my pretty girl. I will miss you so much.
On Monday, the zoo addressed questions regarding Ginger’s cause of death:
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