Erie Zoo mourns sand cat Wendy. What zoo officials say happened
(This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.)
The zoo announced on Feb. 12 that on Feb. 8, Wendy, a 9-year-old sand cat, was found exhibiting unusual behavior during her breakfast routine. That behavior included laying at the bottom of her cat tree as she was unable to use her back legs.
Wendy, a female sand cat, is shown in her enclosure at the Erie Zoo on Feb. 27, 2018. Wendy is one of the animals that is part of a new artificial insemination program at the zoo, which will reopen for the season on March 1. [CHRISTOPHER MILLETTE/ERIE TIMES-NEWS]
This caused the zoo staff to contact the animal care and veterinary team for an evaluation of Wendy, according to a Facebook post.
Animal care and veterinary team evaluates Wendy
During the medical exam, it was noted that Wendy could not feel deep pain, an indication that she might not be able to regain the ability to walk again.
After consultations from the veterinary radiologist and neurologist, along with x-rays, it was determined Wendy had a fractured thoracic spine. A necropsy was performed and indicated that the spinal cord was not severed but there were visible signs of trauma around the fracture.
"We believe Wendy's injury is consistent with an injury that would be sustained with a fall," said Roo Kojancie, executive director of the Erie Zoo.
This injury meant it was a matter of quality over quantity for the remainder of Wendy’s life as she then began decline over a short period of time. Based off this information, zoo staff made the decision to humanely euthanize the sand cat.
"It was clearly apparent that her quality of life would not have improved," Kojancie said.
Staff working to 'increase traction and grip' in cat exhibit
There were concerns over the new exhibit and how the sand cat could have fallen, Kojancie said.
"(The sand cats) aren't in their original exhibit, which was a smaller exhibit," Kojancie said. "They've been in this new exhibit since September, and it was designed to meet standards in sand cat care. The exhibit offers the opportunity for sand cats to use their natural behaviors including scratching, running and climbing... We encourage these behaviors."
Kojancie says after Wendy's passing, the exhibit was examined and there were no obvious indications of where she could have hurt herself.
"We are modifying certain areas of the exhibit to increase traction and grip for the cats," she said. "The sand cats still have their claws, as do all of the cats here."
About Wendy the sand cat
Wendy was 9 years old which was around the life expectancy for sand cats in the wild which Kojancie says was 10.
Wendy was born at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, New York, on Aug. 2, 2016, and joined the Erie Zoo on June 8, 2017.
The zoo reports that Wendy was the first sand cat to carry kittens to term through artificial insemination, or a medical procedure in which sperm is introduced to a reproductive system using methods other than intercourse, in April of 2018. Unfortunately, the litter was stillborn.
"She was inseminated with genetic material from a male that was in the wild," Kojancie said. "They did a collection and were able to bring back wild genetics into the zoo population while allowing the male sand cat to remain free. Gone are days 50 to 70 years ago that zoos take animals from the wild. Now zoos are working to release certain species back into the wild."
Despite the outcome, Kojancie says this story was a great example of conservation science at work.
Wendy was featured on the Sand Cat Species Survival Plan and was a runner up in the Sand Cat SSP March Madness photo contest.
Recent deaths of zoo animals not related
The recent amount of animals deaths at the Erie Zoo has not caused any concern for staff due to amount of animals at the zoo. Kojancie said the zoo has approximately 300 animals.
"While the timing of these passings are sad and unfortunate, it's not unheard of," Kojancie said. "None of these passings are related."
"The kidney caused changes to his organs which made him susceptible to phenomena," Kojancie said. "It was the combination of the kidneys worsening and the development of phenomena that led to him passing away."
As for Micha the red panda, the zoo is still waiting to receive test results. The cause of his death is still unknown and Kojancie says that there's no concrete timeline on when the zoo will get a new male red panda.
What’s next for the Erie Zoo?
Regarding the sand cats, zoo officials have been in contact with Sand Cat SSP since the opening of the new sand cat habitat in 2025. The zoo looks to add additional cats including a potential male to the group.
The zoo still seeks the addition of a male following the loss of Wendy to introduce to Adiri, the surviving female sand cat.
Zoo staff report that Adiri is continuing to do well following the loss of Wendy.
No timeline has been established when a new sand cat will be at the zoo.
