Bhubaneswar: A huge setback for wildlife lovers as tigress 'Sara' died at Nandankanan Zoological Park here reportedly due to age-related ailments.

Despite all efforts by the NZP veterinarians, Sara breathed her last at 4.42 AM today. She was 18 years and one month old.

The Nandankanan Zoological Park mourned the loss of its beloved Sara, who was brought from Bhopal under an animal exchange programme in 2006.

On February 29, Sara was kept under observation after she was not able to stand and had breathing complications. Following necessary treatment, her health condition was improved on March 3. However, on March 21, she was diagnosed with decubital ulcers on both hip joints. Even as she was accepting food, her health condition deteriorated. On June 26, Sara developed complications with feeble respiration and died today, informed the NZP authorities.

According to reports, the tigress was rescued from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh on October 18, 2006, when she was just 5 months old and kept at Van Vihar Zoological Park, Bhopal. On April 18, 2007, Sara was brought to Nandankanan under an animal exchange programme.

Sara became a vital participant in NZP's conservation breeding program by giving birth to three tigers -- Asha, Ankita, and Subhashree -- on January 13, 2012, sired by the tiger Rishi. Asha was later transferred to Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad, under another animal exchange programme.