A black jaguar housed at a California wildlife sanctuary died after being bitten twice by a rattlesnake, despite receiving emergency treatment and two vials of antivenin.
Project Survival Cat Haven in Dunlap announced the death of the jaguar named Samba
in a Monday, Aug. 24, Facebook post, writing, "We lost our dear, sweet Samba. Our Vet team did everything they could to save her but she didn't make it."Samba was bitten by a venomous snake on Aug. 24 before being rushed to a trauma center, sanctuary founder and Executive Director Dale Anderson told The Fresno Bee. Initial blood work appeared promising, but Samba failed to recover after being placed under anesthesia.
"Hours later, she stopped breathing, and her heart stopped," Anderson said.
USA
TODAY contacted Project Survival's Cat Haven for additional comment on Aug. 28, but has not received a response.
Samba was born at the sanctuary
Samba was born at Project Survival Cat Haven and lived there with her sister, Rose, according to Anderson, who described her as an unusually sweet animal with an exceptionally friendly personality.
The jaguar was sedated and taken to an emergency veterinary facility after staff discovered she had been bitten twice, once on her nose and once on her leg, Anderson said, per the Fresno Bee. Her paw had swollen significantly, and keepers also found puncture wounds, he added.
Veterinarians determined that the snake's venom poisoned Samba, prompting them to give her antivenin. The sanctuary later said tests showed her red blood cells were still being affected by the venom, so veterinarians gave her another dose while working to keep her blood pressure, temperature and heart rate stable.
Her condition ultimately deteriorated, and veterinarians were unable to revive her after her heart stopped, according to the sanctuary.
First fatal snakebite at Cat Haven
Rattlesnakes are a known hazard at Cat Haven, which sits in California's foothills. But Anderson said fatal snakebites have never previously occurred among the sanctuary's cats.
"In 20 years of operation, Samba is the first cat I've ever lost to a snakebite," Anderson told The Fresno Bee. "We've had other cats bitten, and we've been able to give them antivenin and they've recovered."
The sanctuary has dealt with roughly six or seven snakebites over the past two decades. Samba's death also comes during an unusually active year for snake encounters, Anderson said, adding that she was the second cat at the facility to be bitten this year.
Samba's body has been sent to the University of California, Davis, for a necropsy, which could provide more information about why the bites proved fatal.
Why doesn't Cat Haven kill rattlesnakes?
Project Survival's Cat Haven opened in 1998 on a 93-acre property about 45 miles east of Fresno. The sanctuary is home to a variety of feline species, including jaguars, lions, leopards and lynxes. It also provides educational programs.
Rattlesnakes are part of the natural environment surrounding the sanctuary. Rather than killing the snakes found on its property, Cat Haven relocates them to areas farther from the cats, according to Anderson.
He said, per the Fresno Bee, that the sanctuary has relocated 12 rattlesnakes from its property so far this year.
"When you live in the foothills, there are inherent dangers," Anderson said, noting that fire is another risk. "There are only certain things you can do to protect yourself, and then you just have to mitigate the risks and cope with what happens."
He added: "We're trying to save cats around the world. We're here to save animals, not eliminate them."
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com or on X @athompsonABJ
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Black jaguar dies after being bitten twice by rattlesnake
