RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) — The Racine Zoo is mourning the death of Changbai, a 19-year-old Amur tiger remembered for her independence, elegance and playful interactions with her keepers.

Changbai was born May 24, 2007, at the Philadelphia Zoo. She later lived at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo and the Columbus Zoo in Ohio before arriving at the Racine Zoo in 2023.

During her time at the Columbus Zoo, Changbai was featured in the National Geographic program "Secrets of the Zoo." Over her lifetime, she served as a wildlife ambassador at four zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

At 19 years and 2 months old, Changbai lived well beyond the typical lifespan of wild Amur tigers, which the zoo said generally live between 10 and 15 years.

The zoo said Changbai quickly captivated visitors and developed a large following across Wisconsin and the country. Her carnivore care team remembered her for her strong will, fierce independence and striking appearance.

Like her wild counterparts, Changbai maintained strong predatory instincts. The zoo said she often stalked staff members as they cared for her and the other carnivores, hiding nearby until keepers noticed her and offered some of her favorite snacks.

She also enjoyed shredding paper catalogs and cardboard boxes, sometimes spending close to an hour tearing them into small pieces, especially when they were sprayed with root beer extract.

Changbai had several known medical conditions that were closely monitored throughout her time in Racine. Keepers trained her to voluntarily participate in her medical care by presenting her abdomen, teeth and paws and offering her tail for blood draws.

Despite those efforts, the zoo said Changbai's health deteriorated rapidly early this summer. Staff made the decision to humanely euthanize her July 26.

The zoo said Changbai died peacefully surrounded by the staff members who cared for her.

"She was well loved and will be greatly missed," the zoo said.