Santi, a red panda under the care of the Asia Quest team at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, died unexpectedly in late August, the zoo announced Sept. 9.
In a Facebook post, the zoo shared that Santi died from gastric torsion, a condition where the stomach becomes twisted and cuts off blood flow, causing sometimes fatal complications. The animal's caretakers notice she was lethargic and had a distended abdomen and systemic shock in the morning. She died before she could receive medical help despite being rushed to receive emergency surgery.
Santi was born in captivity at the zoo in 2020. In the post announcing her death, her caretakers described her as an animal with a big personality and a high level of intelligence.
"Her intelligence and trust
in her care team showed in countless ways," the post reads. "She learned to high five in a single training session and would enter her crate when given the cue. One of her sweetest behaviors, though, sometimes happened without being asked. If a keeper held out a hand, Santi would gently place her paw in it."
The 6-year-old is remembered for having spent extensive time building a nest for her cubs, for her interest in climbing inside anything new that was brought into her enclosure − including cardboard boxes and backpacks − and for her lifelong adoration for grapes.
Santi's caretakers had a close relationship with her, and shared that they felt lucky to love her and be loved by her throughout her life.
"Anything new was worth investigating," the post read. "That curiosity extended to just about everything happening in her world. When maintenance teams worked in her yard, Santi appointed herself supervisor. New people, unfamiliar equipment, and even the sound of a drill didn’t deter her. She wanted to inspect the work and be part of the action."
In the comments, Santi's fans have shared their favorite moments with her, ranging from Make-A-Wish memories and feeding times to proposals and everyday zoo encounters that Santi made especially treasured.
Dispatch reporter Lilli Malone can be reached at lmalone@dispatch.com or on Instagram at @lillimwrites.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Zoo red panda dies from medical emergency
