Red Panda At Sacramento Zoo Passes Away

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - One of the Sacramento Zoo's red pandas has passed away, the zoo announced on Friday.

Beckie was just two weeks shy of her 17th birthday. She had been battling liver disease for the past two years and her condition took a turn for the worse this week.

With Beckie's condition deteriorating, the decision was made on Thursday to euthanize her.

"While the loss of Beckie is difficult, her life is one that should be celebrated," said Primary Carnivore Zookeeper Amanda Watters in a release.

The zoo notes that Red Pandas only live, on average, 10.4 years in captivity.

"Beckie was very old for a red panda and the zookeepers and veterinarians took excellent and special care with all her geriatric needs," said Leslie Field, Supervisor of Mammals at the Sacramento Zoo, in a release.

Beckie had called the Sacramento Zoo home since 2006. She was among the oldest red pandas housed at a zoo.

Red pandas are listed as an endangered species in the wild. They are native to Eastern Asia. Despite their name, they are not closely related the Giant panda.