LANSING, MI – The Potter Park Zoo is mourning the loss of its beloved snow leopard, Little Girl.

At 20 years old, Little Girl was the oldest snow leopard in zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. She was euthanized Friday following a decline in her health due to chronic kidney disease and progressive arthritis that worsened despite treatment.

Little Girl outlived the average life expectancy for snow leopards of 15 years. She would have turned 21 in April.

“Little Girl will always have a special place in my heart as one of the strongest willed animals I’ve ever worked with,” said zookeeper Liz Jagenow.

“She taught me a lot about patience and quick action since everything was either done on her schedule or not at all. I’ll miss watching her ‘parkour’ to the top rock to sleep and seeing her play chase with the tigers up and down their enclosure lines.”

Lion at Michigan zoo receives root canal

Little Girl has been an essential part of the Lansing zoo where she was born for two decades. She was often seen running, chasing and playing with Amur tiger Liya.

Zookeeper Annie Marcum, who worked with Little Girl for 14 years, noted how ultrasounds taken during her pregnancy added to the body of knowledge about snow leopards that other zoos can use in the care of their animals.

“As her trainer it was truly a joy to teach little girl and to learn from her,” she said. “She has touched my heart and the lessons learned from this amazing animal have made me a better zookeeper and will positively affect the care I give to other animals."

Nearly 600 animals call Potter Park Zoo home, including critically endangered black rhinos, Amur tigers, and endangered red pandas and Massasauga rattlesnake.