Miller Park Zoo’s Rilu dies after battle with COVID-19-induced pneumonia

Snow leopard...Uncia uncia at the Miller Park Zoo.
Keeper for the snow leopard was Carol... — Snow leopard...Uncia uncia at the Miller Park Zoo. Keeper for the snow leopard was Carol Paglucia. Zoo curator helping today was Jonathan Reding. Others helping today were Erik Heinonen (bobcat, trogon, gennet and squirrel), Matt Gerbatsch (tree shrew and guan, squirrel), Jeanne Lust (gennet and squirrel and tree shrew) and Rebecca 'Becca' Van Beek. Primary contact is: Jay Tetzloff Zoo Superintendent Miller Park Zoo 1020 S. Morris Avenue Bloomington, IL 61701 309-434-2825 office 309-434-2250 Zoo 309-434-2823 fax jtetzloff@cityblm.org www.millerparkzoo.org(Joel Sartore | Joel Sartore/Miller Park Zoo)

Published: Jan. 6, 2022 at 4:31 PM CST

BLOOMINGTON (25 NEWS) - Rilu, an 11-year-old snow leopard at the Miller Park Zoo, has died after struggling with COVID-19-induced pneumonia.

Rilu arrived at the Miller Park Zoo in 2011 from the Oklahoma City Zoo.

During his time at the zoo, he produced seven living offspring that are now part of the Species Survival Plan.

He made the Miller Park Zoo one of the leading institutions in the world in producing snow leopard cubs, according to a release.

“Rilu’s personality and beauty will be missed by guests and staff, but he will not be forgotten.”

Copyright 2022 WEEK. All rights reserved.