Black jaguar at California sanctuary succumbs to rattlesnake bite

Project Survival Cat Haven, a big-cat sanctuary outside Fresno, reported that Samba, a black jaguar aged 14 or 15, was bitten by a rattlesnake and later died despite emergency treatment. Staff discovered puncture marks and swelling on her left foot and leg, then transported her to a veterinary clinic where she was administered two doses of antivenom. Although the initial response seemed promising, Samba could not be saved, and the sanctuary is awaiting necropsy results to determine why she did not recover.

Executive director Dale Anderson, who hand-raised Samba, described her as one of the sweetest cats the sanctuary had. He noted that this is the second snake-bite case involving a sanctuary cat this year and emphasized the facility’s policy of relocating, not killing, snakes found on the property.