University of Houston's live cougar mascot Shasta VI dies at Houston Zoo
Kathy Watkins, the Houston Zoo's senior supervisor of carnivores, feeds a meatball to Shasta, the University of Houston's cougar, for a mid-morning snack. She uses the longer pole to keep proper social distance at the Houston Zoo, in Houston, Tuesday, May 12, 2020.Shasta VI, the University of Houston’s live cougar mascot for the past 10 years, was euthanized at the Houston Zoo on Thursday after dealing with a progressive spinal disease and declining kidney function.
"We are committed to ensuring the animals in our care experience the highest quality of life. That includes their day-to-day care as well as end-of-life decisions," the Houston Zoo's vice president of animal programs."With world-class animal keepers, incredible veterinarians, and a complete veterinary clinic, our animals receive the best possible care right up to their last days.
Shasta and two other Cougar cubs were rescued and brought to the Houston Zoo from Washington state in 2011 at just five weeks old when their mother was illegally killed by a hunter. In 2012, the University of Houston Alumni Association and the Houston Zoo introduced Shasta VI as the athletic department’s new live cougar mascot.
Shasta VI lived at the Houston Zoo, but took part in school traditions like guarding the class rings each semester before graduation day.
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