Lincoln Park Zoo's beloved snow leopard Ozzy has died

The Lincoln Park Zoo announced a beloved snow leopard has died. 

The zoo confirmed Ozzie has died after a rapid health deterioration on Thursday. 

"The zoo is grateful to the veterinary and animal care teams that conducted extensive diagnostic testing, including advanced imaging in consultation with our partners at MedVet, and provided intensive supportive care during Ozzy's final days," Zoo officials said. 

Ozzie was born in 2018 at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in New York and arrived at Lincoln Park Zoo in 2021 during the opening of the Pepper Family Wildlife Center. 

While snow leopards are known to be solitary, Ozzy spent time with Kennedi in their outdoor habitat. Zoo officials will continue to monitor Kennedi's behavior following Ozzy's loss.