A critically endangered leopard has died in captivity at a Southern California zoo. Following the Thanksgiving holiday, the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert, Calif. announced the death of Zoya, their 21-year-old Amur leopard, one of the oldest of her kind in captivity.

A critically endangered species of leopard has died at age 21 in a Southern California zoo. Officials at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert say Amur leopard Zoya died of old age last Tuesday after over a decade there.

Zoos across America shared their condolences on the loss of Zoya, the 21-year-old leopard, who died at the Palm Desert zoo this week.

A 21-year-old Amur leopard named Zoya died at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens zoo in California. The leopard is part of a critically endangered species.

Zoya lived at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens for 11 years. Officials thanked the community for "ensuring her legacy will endure."

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's website, Amur leopards are listed as a critically endangered species and have a life expectancy of approximately 10 to 15 years in the wild.

Zoya, a 21-year-old Amur leopard, died of old age at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert on Nov. 26 after more than a decade there, zoo officials announced.