An estimated 3,000 people in the United States develop mesothelioma. The rare and aggressive cancer spreads quickly, and treatment often struggles to stop tumors from growing and multiplying.
Unfortunately, mesothelioma can also develop in beloved animals, and the same deadly characteristics apply in these cases.
The Minnesota Zoo, one of the largest and most-visited in the U.S., announced that one of its tigers died of mesothelioma.
Sundari, also called “Dari”, was the zoo’s 13-year-old female Amur tiger. She was “humanely euthanized” earlier this month (June 2025) due to fast-spreading mesothelioma.
More About Mesothelioma in Animals
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelial linings, which is a series of thin tissue linings near the lungs, abdominal cavity and heart. They provide a protective layer for these organs and cavities and allow some of them to expand and contract as needed.
When cells in the mesothelial linings mutate and become cancer, this is considered mesothelioma. This cancer is caused by exposure to asbestos. Anyone who develops mesothelioma has been exposed to this substance – usually many years before tumors first form.
Asbestos is a mineral made of microscopic fibers. When the fibers break apart, they can be inhaled or swallowed. If an animal inhales these fibers, they can get trapped in the mesothelial linings and cause cells to mutate.
The number of animals that develop mesothelioma is unknown. There are only a few reported cases, usually in pet dogs. In 2021, a dog in Japan developed mesothelioma and was treated with surgery when the cancer was still localized (early stages).
The Minnesota Zoo said mesothelioma can develop in wild felid species such as tigers.
More About ‘Dari’ the Tiger
Dari successfully gave birth to six cubs: Vera, Brosno, Vostok, Yana, Amaliya and Andrei. The Minnesota Zoo has a long history of tiger conservation. Dari was the latest example of these efforts.
“Amur tigers are considered endangered, hovering near the brink of extinction in the 1930s and 1940s. Conservation efforts in the wild and throughout accredited zoos have helped increase populations in the decades since. It’s believed that about 500 or fewer Amur tigers remain in the wild,” the Minnesota Zoo website states.
Dari’s care was part of a Species Survival Plan for tigers. These plans help fight species extinction by guiding breeding decisions and advancing education and habitat conservation.
“Dari’s impact reaches far beyond our Zoo grounds. Dari leaves behind a legacy in tiger conservation and in the hearts of all who knew and loved her,” the Minnesota Zoo website states.
Mesothelioma Guide encourages readers to support the Tiger Conservation Fund. Accredited zoos in North America are raising awareness about wild tigers and funding for their survival. The Tiger Conservation Fund is coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Tiger Species Survival Plan.
Learn more here about this organized effort to save tigers.
Sources & Author
- Minnesota Zoo Mourns Loss of Beloved Amur Tiger, Dari. Minnesota Zoo. Retrieved from: https://mnzoo.org/goodbye-dari/. Accessed: 07/18/2025.
Sources & Author
