Virginia Zoo Announces Death of Cheetah
Incident Date:
03/29/2026
Location:
Norfolk, VA - USA
Facility Name:
Virginia Zoo
Facility Type:
Accredited AZA Facility (AZA)
Incident Category:
Animal Death (AD)
Species:
Small Cats
Animal:
Cheetah
Animal disposition:
Dead
Summary:
NORFOLK, VA – The Virginia Zoo announced the death of Lima, its only female cheetah, following a decline in health.
Lima was euthanized on March 29 after veterinarians and animal care staff determined her quality of life had worsened despite ongoing treatment. Zoo officials said her health issues became more frequent in 2024, with a steady decline over the past six months. Lima arrived at the zoo in 2019 at age 2 with her surrogate mother, Charo, who died in 2022.
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