We’re heartbroken to share that we recently said goodbye to Pepper, one of the first cheetahs to join our Zoo – and the last cheetah to call our Zoo home.  

“Even in her old age, she was still the sassiest cat I ever did meet,” said Curator of Animals Michelle Johnston. “She was a joy to work with and will truly be missed.”  

Pepper was 16 years old, well beyond the median lifespan of her species, which is 12 years old, according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.   

In December 2024, she began having seizures, which were managed with medication. While these medications can help reduce the frequency and severity of seizures, they do not cure the underlying cause of the seizures. Pepper recently began to have seizures again, and despite adjustments to her medications, her health continued to decline. We have also been monitoring Pepper for chronic gastrointestinal and reproductive disease, both of which are common in geriatric cheetahs.    

With all these conditions combined and Pepper’s poor prognosis, the difficult and compassionate decision was made to euthanize her to prevent future suffering. A necropsy confirmed significant reproductive disease, as well as issues with her bladder. 

This is a tough week for our Zoo with the passing of Pepper and another older animal resident, Doc the giraffe. We’re committed to giving all our animal residents the best life into their older years when possible, and we are comforted in knowing they both lived long lives surrounded by a loving animal care team and a community who cherished them.  

Pepper joined our Zoo in 2010 from her birthplace, White Oak Conservation Center. As she aged, Pepper lived in different areas of the Zoo, coming under the care of different keeper teams in our Africa, Rainforest Revealed and Wild Florida areas. She most recently lived in our Wild Florida area.  

“There is so much to say about Pepper – we all know that she was spicy, stinky, and full of attitude,” said Rainforest Revealed keeper Anna Foster. “But she was also so incredibly smart, inquisitive, and a friend.”

Being able to greet Pepper every morning was a highlight of working in Rainforest for Anna. Despite her age, Pepper was willing to learn new behaviors and train every day, Anna said. Pepper made sure to let her keepers know that she was upset when all of her food was eaten, or when it was bone day and she ‘only’ received a bone!

“Some of my favorite memories of her would be when she was lounging in the sun in the afternoon, slowly blinking at me and listening to me chat about my day,” Anna said. “She is leaving a big hole in the zoo and an even bigger hole in my heart, but I know that she was truly loved and had a long, full life.”

Pepper lived up to her name daily by being “spicy” with her keepers, shared Wild Florida keeper Gabby Williams, adding that the cheetah would greet her care team with a little jump stomp and a hiss.  

“We all loved Pepper so much,” Gabby said. “She will be sorely missed by all the teams who worked with her.” 

She was the first Class 1 animal (a special classification) that Wild Florida keeper Kylie Cuti ever worked with. On their first day together, Kylie remembered Pepper was full of energy and ready to start the day “with a big smile.” 

“She was a beautiful lady,” Kylie said.   

We ask that you please keep our Africa, Rainforest and Wild Florida keepers and volunteers in your thoughts.