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A black jaguar at a California wildlife sanctuary died Monday, Aug. 24, after being bitten by a rattlesnake.
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It’s the first time a wild cat has died from a snakebite at Project Survival’s Cat Haven in Fresno County, according to executive director and founder Dale Anderson.
Samba the jaguar was bitten twice by a venomous snake before being rushed to a trauma center for emergency treatment, Anderson told The Fresno Bee.
Samba received two vials of antivenin, and initial blood work appeared promising. However, she failed to recover from the anesthesia.
“Hours later, she stopped breathing, and her heart stopped,” Anderson said.
Here’s what to know:
What is Project Survival’s Cat Haven in Fresno County?
Project Survival’s Cat Haven opened in 1998 on a 93-acre property west of King’s Canyon National Park, a year after the arrival of the first cats.
The wildlife sanctuary off off Highway 180 in Dunlap serves as a home to a variety of feline species, including leopards, lynxes and lions.
It’s about 45 miles east of Fresno.
The nonprofit organization also provides education programs to school groups, churches and others.
Who was black jaguar killed by rattlesnake?
Anderson said Samba was born at Project Survival’s Cat Haven and lived alongside her sister, Rose.
“She was just a very sweet cat, and her personality was exceptionally nice,” Anderson said of Samba.
Project Survival’s Cat Haven shared news of Samba’s death in a Monday post on Facebook.
“We lost our dear, sweet Samba,” officials said. “Our vet team did everything they could to save her, but she didn’t make it.”
Social media users reacted with messages of sorrow and support.
“I am so sorry to hear this,” Facebook user Lise Dettloff Bruun wrote in a comment on Project Survival’s post, calling Samba “such a magnificent creature.” “We know without a doubt you did your absolute best to save her. She could not have gotten any better care.”
“This breaks my heart,” another Facebook user, Jerilane Willis, wrote. “So very sorry for your loss.”
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Facebook user Brenda Bethel called the jaguar’s death a “huge loss of a beautiful creature.”
Why did big cat Samba die from snake bite?
Rattlesnakes are a known hazard in the area surrounding Project Survival’s Cat Haven, Anderson said.
Over the past two decades, he said, “We’ve had maybe six or seven snake bites.”
However, he said, a snake bite has never proved fatal to any of the animals at the sanctuary until now.
“In 20 years of operation, Samba is the first cat I’ve ever lost to a snakebite,” Anderson said. “We’ve had other cats bitten, and we’ve been able to give them antivenin and they’ve recovered.”
Samba’s body has been sent to UC Davis for a necropsy that could provide clearer answers about what caused her death.
“Once we get a necropsy, hopefully we’ll have a better idea of why it happened,” Anderson said.
Are rattlesnakes a problem at Dunlop property?
According to WorldAtlas, the San Joaquin Valley is one of seven “rattlesnake hotspots” in the United States.
The largely agricultural region provides a “steady food supply” for snakes — specifically, ground squirrels and gophers attracted by its agriculture and extensive irrigation, The Modesto Bee previously reported.
Asked why Project Survival’s Cat Haven doesn’t simply exterminate local rattlesnakes, Anderson explained that eradication is neither practical nor consistent with the sanctuary’s mission.
“It’s not feasible,” Anderson said.
“When you live in the foothills, there are inherent dangers. One of them is rattlesnakes, and another is fires,” he exampled. “There are only certain things you can do to protect yourself, and then you just have to mitigate the risks and cope with what happens.”
Project Survival’s Cat Haven relocates rattlesnakes rather than killing them.
Anderson said the group has moved 12 rattlesnakes off its property so far in 2026.
“We’re trying to save cats around the world. We’re here to save animals, not eliminate them,” Anderson said. “Just because it’s inconvenient doesn’t mean I have to kill it.”
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