Popular Adelaide Zoo attraction ‘Snowy’ believed to be the only white meerkat in the world has died

An elderly meerkat who stole the hearts of zoo visitors in South Australia for years because of her spectacular fur has died.

‘Snow White’, Adelaide Zoo’s beloved bleached meerkat, had her 14th birthday in September, but on Thursday the zoo keepers confirmed they had to euthanise the small mammal.

An Adelaide Zoo spokesperson said the decision came after a number of age-related complications beset ‘Snowy’.

‘Snowy was humanely euthanised due to a number of age-related health conditions that has seen her quality of life significantly reduced,’ a statement from the Zoo read.

‘An aged animal assessment was conducted with meerkat keepers and zoo veterinarians and it was determined that it was time to offer Snowy this final act of kindness, to prevent her suffering.’

The one-of-a-kind meerkat had handsomely surpassed the typical 10-year life-expectancy of a meerkat in human care.

The zoo believes Snowy is the only ever recorded white meerkat and shared how she came to acquire her famous white coat.

‘Born looking just like her relatives throughout her youth, Snow White lost her pigmentation later in life to become the Snowy we all know and love,’ Adelaide Zoo said.

‘Beloved by Adelaide Zoo staff, volunteers, members and zoo-goers, and most of all by her keepers, Snowy has been an icon of our zoo and captured hearts and imaginations throughout her life.

‘She reminded us all of the beauty in being different, and celebrating that which makes us unique.’

The initial change in her colouring originally bewildered zoo vets and meant the little meerkat needed protection from the sun.

Otherwise the meerkat was left unharmed by the colour change.

There are a number of reasons why an animal can lose its pigmentation, though it is unclear which condition Snowy had. 

One person had previously enquired online as to whether Snowy had vitiligo, a disease which can cause cause a loss of colour in humans and animals. But in Snowy’s case, the colour loss has remained a mystery.

‘Our veterinary team have thoroughly checked her over and found no obvious diagnosis! She is otherwise perfectly healthy and active, and we will be continually monitoring her condition,’ a spokesperson from the zoo said at the time.

Visitors to the zoo left comments on social media remembering the first times they saw Snowy.

‘Snowy’ attracted visitors to Adelaide Zoo for many years  for her unique, whitened fur 

‘I visited Adelaide Zoo many times and always looked for Snowy as she was a favourite … I knew she had to be an advanced age so I shouldn’t be surprised but it still deeply saddens me,’ one woman said.

Many were thinking of the carers who had lost her.

‘She was gorgeous. My sympathies to her carers,’ a woman said.

‘She was a unique little ‘person’ and always a great pleasure to see. Will be sadly missed. Thinking of the keepers,’ another added.