PHOENIX — Beau the cheetah had a good run. The 10-year-old cat had lived on and off at the Phoenix Zoo since 2014 with his two brothers, Rhett and Wilkes. Sadly, the zoo had to make the difficult decision to humanely euthanize Beau as his age-related health problems caught up with him.
At 10 years old, Beau was "considered geriatric" for a cheetah, the zoo announced on Facebook. Keepers were monitoring him for hind leg weakness and partial paralysis and found an aggressive tumor in his spine.
Beau was put to sleep on March 1, the Phoenix Zoo announced on Tuesday.
Beau, Rhett and Wilkes were born in Florida back in 2014 and came to the Phoenix Zoo soon after. They were relocated to the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Texas under recommendations from the Species Survival Plan in 2018 but returned to the Valley in 2021.
"He was the sweetest among the trio and a pleasure to work with," the Zoo said in their tribute.
Several of Beau's keepers at the zoo shared touching stories about him from their time taking care of him.
"Beau was a sweet cat with an extensive history here," said Kim, one of the carnivore keepers with the Phoenix Zoo. "He was lovingly referred to as Beau-Beau or Beau-friend by his keepers. He will be greatly missed.”
"I was lucky enough to be one of the keepers that traveled to White Oak Conservation Center in Florida in 2014 to pick Beau and his brothers up and bring them back to their new home in Phoenix. These boys got the royal treatment," said senior carnivore keeper Heather.
"Beau was one of the sweetest cheetahs I've had the pleasure to work with and was a cherished member of our family here at the Phoenix Zoo. He had a close relationship with all – always purring when he came in, and if he couldn’t see his brothers, chirping to find them," carnivore keeper Jacob said. "I hope you’re in a place with endless sunshine, shade, and rabbits to chase. You’ll be dearly missed Beau."
Beau's brothers Rhett and Wilkes can still be seen in the Phoenix Zoo's cheetah habitat. Beau is survived by several litters sired during his time at the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center.
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