A ZOO near Winchester has announced the death of one of its snow leopards after making the “difficult decision” to euthanise the animal due to poor health.

Marwell Wildlife posted on Facebook that the snow leopard, named Indeever, developed arthritis and kidney disease at the age of 14.

The zoo in Colden Common made the decision to put Indeveer down on the morning of Monday, November 28 to prevent further suffering.

Indeveer came to Marwell from Zurich in 2010 and spent his life alongside his female companion Irina ever since.

Posting on Facebook, on Wednesday, November 30, Marwell Wildlife said: “He quickly established himself as a big character at the zoo, loving to interact with his keepers and showing a keen interest in what was going on around him. During his time at Marwell he fathered two litters of cubs including Kadhir and Kamala in 2011 and Ajendra and Animesh in 2013. This is particularly important as snow leopards are listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list.”

Animal team leader, Carrie Arnold, said: “I will always miss him. He was such a joyful character and never failed to make you smile. Indy loved playing hide and seek. Every morning he would run around or hide behind rocks to avoid us. When we spotted him, he would turn around and sprint off in the other direction.

“In the afternoon he would become even more playful, stalking us and following when we walked away. He would stop every time you looked back and would then come to a certain part of the enclosure where he enjoyed rolling around on the ground. “He’ll be sadly missed.”

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Keepers first noticed that the snow leopard was walking abnormally and struggled to jump during the summer. Because arthritis is common in geriatric cats the team decided to anaesthetise Indeever for x-rays.

Arthritis was found in the leopard’s pelvis and one of his knees but long-term pain relief was initially successful, helping him to walk and jump again. But throughout the last week Indeever’s health deteriorated.

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Deputy veterinary services manager, Dr Sarah Jane Smith, said: “We examined Indeever on Monday morning under anaesthesia and found that his weight loss was due to muscle loss. There were also signs of kidney disease on his urine sample.

“Muscle loss can be caused by both arthritis and kidney disease; and both diseases are very common in old cats, often happening at the same time.”

Arthritis and kidney disease can be managed but not cured and the veterinary and carnivore teams agreed that Indeever’s comfort could no longer be maintained.

Marwell has been looking after Snow Leopards at the conservation site since 1977. Over the years, cubs born at the zoo including Indeever’s then go on to other locations.

Now only Irina the snow leopard, aged 14, remains in the enclosure.