The Living Desert Says Goodbye to Memo, a 14-Year-Old Jaguar

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens announced Tuesday that Memo, a 14-year-old jaguar and longtime resident of the Palm Desert facility, has died. Zoo staff made the difficult decision to euthanize him after his health deteriorated sharply in recent days.

Memo had developed a kidney infection, a condition the zoo says is common in aging large cats. The animal care and veterinary teams brought in outside specialists and arranged for a mobile CT unit to come directly to the zoo to evaluate him. The results confirmed Memo was in renal failure, an irreversible condition.

Despite around-the-clock monitoring and care from his team, the zoo says his quality of life became severely compromised over the past few days. "Providing animals with a peaceful passing, free from suffering, is the final act of care we can provide," the zoo said in a statement.

Memo had been a beloved fixture at the zoo for years, leaving an impression on staff, volunteers, and countless visitors. "He will be deeply missed," the zoo wrote.

Guests visiting The Living Desert in the coming days will have the opportunity to leave memories and messages for his care team at the jaguar habitat. The zoo is also inviting the public to share photos, videos, and memories of Memo on their social media pages.