Shepreth Wildlife Park mourns the loss of beloved Sumatran tiger, Ratna
Shepreth Wildlife Park has announced the passing of its Sumatran tiger, Ratna.
At the remarkable age of 21, Ratna was put to sleep on Tuesday, 28 January, after her health and mobility challenges reached a point where they could no longer be managed compassionately.
Ratna joined the Shepreth family in 2019, retiring alongside her daughter, Kelabu, after a long and celebrated residency at Chessington in Surrey.
During her time at Shepreth, Ratna became an icon, captivating visitors and playing a pivotal role in the park’s educational and conservation efforts.
One of Ratna’s most remarkable achievements came in the spring of 2021 when she made headlines worldwide as the first tiger to undergo corneal surgery - a groundbreaking procedure that saved her eye.
This surgery, performed by Dr David Williams from the Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital at the University of Cambridge, was a world first for a big cat.
After months of careful monitoring, Ratna fully recovered and continued to thrive under the dedicated care of the Shepreth team.
Reflecting on this extraordinary tiger, Dr Williams said: "Ratna was an incredible patient. Seeing her recover and flourish after her surgery was truly rewarding.
“She was a testament to the resilience and beauty of her species."
The team at Shepreth Wildlife Park says it is heartbroken by Ratna’s passing. With fewer than 600 Sumatran tigers left in the wild, Shepreth continues its mission to raise awareness and support conservation efforts for this elusive and majestic subspecies.
Rebecca Willers, director of Shepreth Wildlife Park, said: “We have cared for tigers at Shepreth now for nearly a quarter of a century, but saying goodbye to them never gets easier.
“Ratna had an incredibly strong and loveable character, she will not be forgotten. Her lasting legacy will be all the tigers she helped save in the wild, thanks to the awareness and funds we have been able to raise as a result of caring for these beautiful creatures.”
Dean Ward, co-curator at Shepreth Wildlife Park and head of the carnivore section, added: “Working with Ratna over the years has been a blessing.
“She had a beautiful character, always ready with a greeting in the mornings and always a chuff to say goodnight at the end of the day.
“To reach 21 was an achievement and we were so proud of her role as an ambassador through education of the population decline of tigers across Asia, as well as being a fantastic mum in the EEP breeding programme.
“I know she will be dearly missed by visitors and staff alike.”
Ratna’s life and legacy will continue to inspire efforts to protect her species and the habitats they depend on.
Her story is a reminder of the importance of conservation and the work required to ensure these incredible animals remain part of our world for generations to come.
For more information about Shepreth Wildlife Park’s conservation efforts or to learn how you can help, visit sheprethwildlifepark.co.uk.