Zoo officials say Felix, the Eurasian lynx has died

By WDIO

The Lift's In Otter News visited with Felix the lynx a couple of times. (WDIO, file)

Felix, the Eurasian lynx has died, according to the Lake Superior Zoo’s Facebook page. Just before 11 a.m. on Tuesday, the Lake Superior Zoo posted about the passing of their “beloved 17-year-old Eurasian lynx, Felix.” Officials say the lynx came to the Zoo in 2010.

According to the post, Felix underwent a comprehensive physical examination in August, and was overall in good health for her age. Although the zoo’s animal care team had observed that the lynx was becoming unsteady while moving around her habitat and in the last month showed signs she was struggling to eat.

In the post on Facebook, Zoo officials said “After much deliberation, we made the decision to humanely euthanize her, surrounded by the loving keepers who cared for her deeply. Felix brought joy to all who had the pleasure of watching her, and she will be deeply missed by staff and visitors alike. We are grateful for all the years with Felix.”

The typical lifespand for Eurasian lynx is 12-15 years in the wild.