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Miller Park Zoo reports deaths of red panda, Pallas’s cat after unrelated health problems

Incident Date:
10/23/2026
Location:
Bloomington, IL - USA
Facility Name:
Miller Park Zoo
Facility Type:
Accredited AZA Facility (AZA)
Incident Category:
Animal Death (AD)
Species:
Other
Animal:
Red Panda and Pallas Cat
Animal disposition:
Dead

Summary:

BLOOMINGTON, IL – Miller Park Zoo announced the deaths Friday of 9-year-old Nozomi, a Pallas’s cat, and a 9-year-old red panda named China. Both animals were suffering from separate health issues.

China was born on July 17, 2017, and was euthanized following an incurable adrenal disorder discovered in July. China’s brother, Burma, died of a similar condition in 2024. The disease is known to affect red pandas, the zoo said.

Both were part of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan. In a press release, Miller Park Zoo said it plans to acquire a red panda through that program. There is no current plan to replace a Pallas’s cat.

Nozomi was born April 20, 2017, at a zoo in Fargo, North Dakota. The Pallas’s cat had been receiving care for neurological issues since July.

Action take by Born Free USA:

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