Beloved Central Coast Zoo tiger dies at 17. ‘He was family’

A beloved Malayan tiger at the Central Coast Zoo died Thursday morning.

Menderu, the 17-year-old tiger, came to the zoo as a cub in 2008 from the San Diego Zoo at 1 year old.

Menderu was under veterinary care as his health declined in recent weeks, a news release said. His condition got worse rapidly before he died Thursday morning.

The cause of death will be revealed in a few weeks, according to the release.

His lifespan was the average expectancy for Malayan tigers in professional care, according to the release.

“He led the best quality and healthy life,” zoo director Cynthia Stringfield said in the release. “The staff mourns him deeply as he wasn’t just an animal in our care, he was family.”

The Central Coast Zoo plans to welcome another tiger in the future and expand the tiger habitat.