The Dickerson Park Zoo announced the death of Cinta, a 12-year-old Malayan tiger in their care, due to cancer.

According to the zoo, Cinta’s caretakers noticed he was acting abnormally, as he was lethargic and uninterested in food. Cinta was anesthetized and taken to the zoo hospital, where it was discovered that he had a tumor.

“Cinta’s exam showed him to be anemic,” said DPZ head veterinarian Dr. Stephanie Carle in a statement. “An ultrasound revealed his abdomen was full of blood from a bleeding tumor. During emergency surgery, it was discovered the tumor was not removable and the decision was made to humanely euthanize him.”

Cinta was brought from the San Diego Zoo to DPZ in March 2025. He was paired with a female Malayan tiger — Berisi — as part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP), which works to maintain a genetically diverse and healthy population of species, DPZ says.

Malayan tigers are considered critically endangered, with fewer than 300 estimated to be left in the wild. DPZ says that despite being a solitary species, Cinta and Berisi were showing signs of interest in each other.

“While pathology reports will reveal more, we do know this type of cancer was fast-growing. It was not present at Cinta’s exam last December,” shared Dr. Carle. “It typically shows no symptoms until the tumor begins to bleed into the abdomen, which causes weakness due to anemia. In cases where the tumor is removable, the patient typically only lives one to six months with chemotherapy. We are saddened by the loss of this beautiful tiger, but know he received the best care possible and is no longer suffering.”