Andre – In Memory

In Memory

I’ve been stalling writing this.  I couldn’t even bear thinking about it. But that doesn’t change the fact that cougar Andre is gone.

Losses hurt. But the ones that catch you off guard can tear you to pieces.  I’m just coming to terms with no longer seeing his snaggle tooth smile at the fence corner each day, sneaking behind a blade of grass or water bucket.

Andre has had a history of eating things he shouldn’t. From surviving a bowel obstruction surgery several years ago, he continued to eat sticks and branches and get them lodged in the roof of his mouth causing a massive infection.

Over the last several months, he ate more sticks and got them lodged again.  The caretakers devised a plan to help get it loose during feeding time.  It worked several times.  But most recently, nothing worked. 

So we scheduled a vet day to sedate and remove it.  The vet day was successful, and we even removed two teeth to prevent a stick from getting stuck again.

But what we didn’t know at the time, he also had a perforation in his lower stomach that proved to be fatal. 

Devastated, we wanted answers. Results from the University were inconclusive – his perforation could’ve been from a foreign body, like a stick. But it also could’ve been from unhealthy tissue that caused a hole. 

All we know is that, sadly, we need to move on without our Andre. After being orphaned in Canada,

Andre arrived at TWS as a cub.  He was named after the agent who helped save him.  At the rehab center, Andre had been diagnosed with metabolic bone disease and had hairline fractures throughout his body.

I remember the day Andre arrived. His high pitched chirp carried throughout the entire hospital.  He never wanted to be alone and was dependent on us humans. 

His coat was spotted, as cougar cubs’ coats are, and he always had dark fur under his eyes. None of the other cougars had that.

It took a lot of loving care to help Andre heal from his disease.  It was so special watching him develop into an adult and become the leader of the pack, the “5-Wild” cougar family.

Even though Andre had a signature Elvis snarl, he was never an imposter. He was true to himself,confident in being a cougar and made Carlo, Noah, Donoma and Langley feel secure. 

He was the first to scale the telephone poles as we were building their 3-tier perch.  What a surprise to find him balancing from top to top of pole before the platforms were installed!

Andre was always the first to eat, the one each cat followed and respected.

They would chatter, chirp and headbutt him with affection and he would let out an annoying growl.  Yet he was never aggressive towards them.

To see Andre as that little fragile, scared cub turn into the confident, dominant cougar he became is what we’d hoped for.  We helped support him, but the transformation was all his. 

And he also ensured that he instilled confidence in the others. They will blossom as their own family of 3, that used to be 5.

Andre, we will miss your grumpy look but sweet and confident soul.  Thank you for reminding us that even hand-reared cougars are just as brave, bold and beautiful as those who get to spend their lives in the wild.

You accomplished more than nature intended and we’re forever grateful we were a part of your special journey. All our love, forever and always.