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Dallas Zoo announces death of 10-year-old cheetah from apparent kidney failure

Brutus, one of the two cheetah brothers the Dallas Zoo welcomed from Ohio last year, has died unexpectedly at the age of 10, the zoo announced “with a heavy heart” Friday.

While the official cause of death is unknown, the zoo said initial findings indicated kidney failure, “a common issue in older cats.” The median life expectancy for cheetahs is about 11 years, according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Last week, the zoo said, Brutus — “known by his zoologists for his laid-back, easygoing personality” — became lethargic and weak and lost his appetite.

The veterinary team performed an exam Oct. 18, including an endoscopic look at his esophagus and stomach, but did not find a cause for his symptoms, according to the zoo. Staff members continued to monitor him closely in the following days, but said his appetite never returned.

His condition worsened over the weekend, and he was hospitalized to undergo more aggressive treatments and assisted feedings. However, the zoo said, he “continued to decline with evidence of kidney failure, anemia, infection and compromised liver/gallbladder function.”

Brutus and his brother, Finnick, made their public debut in mid-July 2021 from The Wilds conservation center in Columbus, Ohio. The pair had been together since birth, the zoo said, and were often found snuggled together in their habitat, grooming one another.

In its announcement Friday, the zoo called Brutus and Finnick “incredible ambassadors for the species.”

“The animals in our care become part of our family, and Brutus will be missed dearly by many who cared for him,” the zoo said. “We ask that you keep our zoologists in your thoughts as they, too, deal with this loss.”

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