Submitted Photo Roosevelt Park Zoo’s leopard, Anya, is shown in the Amur leopard habitat at Roosevelt Park Zoo. Anya died this week.

Anya, Roosevelt Park Zoo’s nearly 2-year-old female Amur leopard, has died at the zoo in Minot.

According to zoo information, during an early morning check on Wednesday the large cat keeper entered the Amur leopard building to discover that Anya had died.

Last month, it was noted Anya was chewing her meat mainly on one side of her mouth. Because she was reaching sexual maturity, zoo staff decided it would be best to examine her sooner than later to address the issue.

On Tuesday, Anya was immobilized to conduct an examination of her mouth. A fracture could be seen in one of her canines and following X-rays, it was obvious the fracture went to the base of the tooth. A local dentist with veterinary dentistry experience had offered his services during the zoo’s preparations for the immobilization. Once the extent of the fracture was known, the dentist took over to address the issue.

The fractured portion of the tooth was removed and a root canal performed. She was monitored by the zoo’s veterinarian throughout the procedure. Once the root canal was complete and the tooth sealed, Anya was returned to her den and given the reversal for the immobilization drugs. She remained groggy but was breathing well. She was checked on throughout the day and into the evening but still was not getting to her feet. It was discovered on an early morning check that she had passed.

A postmortem examination was performed and tissue samples were taken to be sent to a pathology laboratory for examination. No apparent cause for her death was found during the post, so the zoo is hopeful it can get some answers once the pathologists complete their work.

“It was a difficult day for the entire staff. Even when you do everything right, things can go wrong. Anytime an animal is placed under anesthesia, there is risk involved and that is the reason the zoo’s training program is so critical because it allows us to perform several veterinary procedures that would have required a full immobilization in the past,” said Jeff Bullock, zoo director.

Anya would have turned 2 years old in April. She came to Minot from the St. Louis Zoo in Missouri last June on a breeding recommendation by the Amur Leopard Species Survival Plan (SSP). She shared her enclosure with a male leopard, Jordan, with whom she was paired. The two got along well and the zoo was hopeful to see breeding activity as the young pair reached sexual maturity. The zoo informed the Amur leopard SSP coordinator about the situation.

The Amur Leopard SSP is scheduled to meet in the coming weeks to plan transfers and breeding recommendations for the coming year. Once this process is completed the zoo will be informed of any changes planned for the Minot zoo.

Besides Jordan, the zoo has another leopard, an older female named Clover.