Samba, a 14-year-old black jaguar at Project Survival’s Cat Haven in Dunlap, California, died after being treated for two rattlesnake bites despite receiving two doses of antivenom. Vets reported venom levels dropped to nearly zero, but Samba died during recovery from anesthesia. The California Poison Control System has recorded 277 rattlesnake bites this season, and sanctuary staff say snake activity on the grounds has increased. The sanctuary has sent Samba’s body to UC Davis for a necropsy.
Black Jaguar Samba Dies After Two Rattlesnake Bites at California Sanctuary
Photo Credit: iStock
Samba, a 14-year-old black jaguar at Project Survival’s Cat Haven in Dunlap, California, died after emergency treatment for two rattlesnake bites, sanctuary officials and local media reported.
Staff discovered two bite marks and noticed Samba was staying in her den and favoring one paw. They rushed her to the Fresno Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center, where veterinarians sedated her and administered two doses of antivenom.
“Then she noticed [Samba's] left paw was twice the size of her right one and the swelling went all the way up her leg,” founder Dale Anderson recalled.
Clinic tests indicated venom levels fell to nearly zero after treatment, but Samba did not survive the recovery from anesthesia. Anderson said the jaguar died while staff were trying to wake her from sedation.
To determine whether underlying health issues or complications contributed to the outcome, the sanctuary sent Samba’s body to the UC Davis California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory for a necropsy.
Rattlesnake Season And Rising Encounters
The California Poison Control System has logged 277 rattlesnake bites so far this season. By comparison, a typical California season (usually April–October) reports roughly 290–390 bites statewide. Sanctuary staff say rattlesnake sightings on the 93-acre property have increased, and at least six other resident cats received antivenom treatment and recovered.
Experts link the spike in snake activity to an unusually warm start to the year, which prompted snakes to emerge from hibernation earlier to hunt and mate. The same mild weather also brought people and pets outdoors sooner, increasing the chance of dangerous encounters.
Wider Context
Samba’s death highlights growing tensions as wildlife and people increasingly share space. Reports from California and beyond have documented more hazardous encounters—from destructive wild pig populations damaging parks to rising conflicts near urban edges and increased human-wildlife incidents in regions such as Karnataka, India.
Anderson described Samba as one of his “kids,” remembering her as calm and sweet. The sanctuary is awaiting necropsy results to better understand what factors may have contributed to her death.
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