NE Indiana animal sanctuary mourns deaths of 2 animals

ALBION, Ind. (AP) - Staff members at a northeastern Indiana animal sanctuary are mourning the deaths of two of its longtime animal residents.

The Black Pine Animal Sanctuary says its 18-year-old female tiger, Jai, was found dead Friday at the sanctuary in Albion, about 25 miles northwest of Fort Wayne.

The Journal Gazette reports the tiger began suffering from seizures last year and was treated for an abscess in October. Staff suspected she had a brain tumor.

The sanctuary's 14-year-old potbellied pig, Arnold, also died Wednesday. Staff had been planning to euthanize the pig, which was diagnosed with pancreatitis after recently falling ill.

The center says in a Facebook post that Jai and Arnold's deaths have left staff "heartbroken." Their deaths follow the October death of the sanctuary's 22-year-old African lion, Mufasa.

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Information from: The Journal Gazette, http://www.journalgazette.net