The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo’s 19-year-old snow leopard was euthanized on the weekend.

In a news release the zoo officials say Kazi was being closely monitored by the Zoo’s animal care and veterinary teams as his health declined due to advanced age. After careful and ongoing assessment of his condition and quality of life, the difficult decision was made to euthanize him.

Kazi had just turned 19 in June, and they say will be deeply missed by the staff who cared for him, as well as by the many visitors who came to know him over the years.

The Zoo says he played an important role in the Snow Leopard Species Survival Plan Program for several years before enjoying his retirement at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo. Kazi was born at the Toronto Zoo and later came to Saskatoon from the Edmonton Valley Zoo. Two commemorative signs later this week outside the snow leopard habitat,