Oakland Zoo’s rescued tigers Lola and Mia die months apart after 2022 Oklahoma roadside rescue

Two rescued tigers die within months of each other

Oakland Zoo has lost two adult tigers—Lola and Mia—who arrived together in 2022 after being removed from an abandoned roadside zoo in northeastern Oklahoma. The deaths, occurring months apart, mark the end of a rescue that brought the animals from long-term confinement and poor husbandry conditions into specialized veterinary care and a permanent habitat in Oakland.

Lola was euthanized on Jan. 23, 2026, after zoo staff determined her condition had deteriorated rapidly and could not be reversed without treatment that would significantly compromise her welfare. Staff first observed a limp earlier in January and transported her to the zoo’s veterinary hospital. A series of exams identified a severe paw infection that advanced despite antibiotic intervention and spread systemically. Veterinarians assessed her prognosis as very poor and concluded euthanasia was the most humane option.

Mia, rescued alongside Lola, died several months earlier, according to zoo communications referenced in reporting about Lola’s death. Both tigers had been living at Oakland Zoo since summer 2022, following quarantine and medical evaluation after transport from Oklahoma.

Background: a multi-agency rescue spanning more than 4,000 miles

Lola and Mia were part of a coordinated June 2022 operation involving Oakland Zoo and two accredited big-cat sanctuaries. The effort removed four large cats from a defunct drive-through roadside zoo in northeastern Oklahoma that had previously been cited and shut down by federal regulators for animal safety and welfare violations. The facility had also offered cub-petting and photo opportunities—practices widely associated with early separation, excessive handling, and long-term welfare risks for big cats.

Oakland Zoo took in two tigers—later named Lola and Mia—while other animals from the same site were placed with partnering sanctuaries. Zoo staff have stated the rescue was initiated after a concerned resident alerted them that abandoned big cats remained in poor condition and without consistent care.

• Lola was estimated to be about 12 years old when she arrived in 2022.

• At intake, Lola and Mia required veterinary attention consistent with prolonged inadequate care.

• The rescue was structured to place animals in facilities with specialized veterinary capacity and lifelong housing.

What the tigers’ deaths underscore about long-term rescue outcomes

Wildlife rescues from roadside facilities can stabilize animals and improve day-to-day conditions, but many arrive with chronic health issues, prior injuries, or cumulative impacts of inadequate diets, limited space, and untreated disease. In Lola’s case, the final illness progressed quickly and was assessed as unresponsive to available interventions.

Veterinary teams evaluating quality of life in large cats weigh prognosis, pain control, and the intrusiveness of treatment against the animal’s welfare needs.

Oakland Zoo has used previous rescue cases to highlight the challenges created by private possession, cub-petting businesses, and underregulated exhibition—systems that can leave accredited zoos and sanctuaries managing the long-term medical and behavioral consequences after animals are seized, surrendered, or abandoned.