Greater Vancouver Zoo Siberian tiger Hani found dead

Hani, one of two sister Siberian tigers brought to theGreater Vancouver Zoo in 2012, was found dead this morning by its keepers.

Jody Henderson, general manager of thezoo, saidHaniappeared to be healthy but becamelethargic, was behaving abnormallyandstopped eating yesterday.

"All staff and volunteers at the zoo are devastated by Hani's sudden passing," Henderson said in astatement posted online. "We are hopeful that the full necropsy that will be performed later today will provide some answers."

Hani and her sister, Hana, wereborn May 22, 2011, at Seoul Zoo in SouthKorea.

"Hani was the smaller of the two tigers and had a quiet demeanour when compared to her sister," Henderson said.

Hanidied just 22 days before reaching her third birthday. This is the second Siberian tiger the zoo has lost in four months.

Sweetie, an 18-year-old Siberiantiger, was euthanizedon Dec. 31, after suffering breathing problems, a loss of appetite and ongoing lethargy.

Henderson said the medianlife expectancy for female Siberian tigers in captivity is 14 years.

The zoo saysthe wild population of Siberian tigersis estimated to be between 400 and 500 animals, spread across areas ofeastern Russia, China and North Korea.

The Greater Vancouver Zoo is located in Aldergrove,roughly 50 kilometreseast of Vancouver.