Staff at the Cherry Brook Zoo in Saint John are mourning the loss of a beloved snow leopard.
Lexie was found dead in her building by her keeper on Saturday morning at the age of 16.
The zoo made the announcement in a statement and a Facebook post on Monday.
“We were shocked as there were no clinical signs or changes in her behaviour leading up to her untimely death,” read the statement.
“Lexie was no spring chicken at the age of 16, however, the vet had observed healthy body condition, excellent teeth, and well-maintained claws.”
Officials are awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination at UPEI but said early tests showed no abnormalities or obvious cause of death.
Staff say Lexie was deeply loved by her keepers and had built a particularly special bond over the past year.
“She trusted us to start taking food from tongs, allowing keepers to get a closer look at her physical condition and to be able to administer medication as needed. She began greeting us inside her building and would play with us during evenings and early mornings,” the zoo said.
The zoo encouraged anyone to stops by during the March break to bring in a card or a letter expressing their love or memory of her.