The Almaty Zoo recently shared the inspiring story of Diana, a jaguar who overcame life-threatening injuries and has been living at the zoo for 18 years.
As a cub, Diana was seriously injured in an attack by an adult jaguar — her own father. The incident, which occurred in 2007, left her with severe wounds, resulting in the loss of one of her front paws and part of her tail. In most zoos, such trauma would lead to euthanasia, a common practice for animals with such extensive injuries. However, in Diana’s case, the veterinary team chose a different path.
«Diana underwent three surgeries — two on her paw and one to amputate her damaged tail,» the zoo shared. «We still regularly trim the twisting claw on her injured paw.»
Despite the odds, Diana began to recover. After a long rehabilitation period in a closed enclosure, she gradually adapted to life on three legs. Eventually, she was moved to a public enclosure — a powerful symbol of compassion and humane care for animals with special needs.
Today, Diana has become a symbol of endurance and hope for both zoo staff and visitors. Now 18 years old, she has exceeded the typical jaguar lifespan of 12 to 15 years in the wild.
«Diana has already outlived her biological age, but she remains active and continues to bring us joy,» said Agybay Azhibaev, the zoo’s head of veterinary services.
Thanks to constant monitoring and dedicated care, Diana not only survived but has become one of the zoo’s longest-living residents — a true testament to resilience.
