Carnivore Preservation Trust (CPT) announced that Romeo the tiger passed away last Monday. Romeo’s health had been declining for a couple of months as a result of a progressive neurological disease, making it increasingly difficult for him to control his hind legs. For his comfort, he was removed from the tour route two weeks ago.
Romeo was one of CPT’s most widely known animals. He was rescued from a private owner in Durham when he was six months old.
Romeo grew to be 12 feet long (from his nose to the tip of his tail) and was estimated at one time to weigh over 800 pounds, making him a very large tiger, even by standards in the wild. He was a favorite on tours and was particularly notorious as one of the cats that would spray (mark) you if he got the chance.