Michael Jackson's Tiger Dies of Lung Cancer

Pop icon's exotic pet passes away while at a wildlife preserve

By Bruna Nessif Jun 28, 2012 1:00 AMTags
Michael Jackson, Thriller, TigerGregg DeGuire/WireImage; L. Cohen/WireImage

Looks like Michael Jackson is going to be reunited with an old friend.

The King of Pop's 13-year-old tiger Thriller died of lung cancer at actress-activist Tippi Hedren's wildlife preserve in California on June 11, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Thriller and her brother Sabu were born on Nov. 20, 1998, and lived at Jackson's Neverland Ranch (along with many other animals, such as giraffes, flamingos, orangutans and elephants) until May 4, 2006, when Jackson asked Hedren to take the tigers to her Shambala Preserve in Acton.

"She was about a tough a tiger as we have known here. She ruled over Sabu," Hedren said. "She was the queen. We were fascinated by her dominance."

A necropsy was performed to pinpoint the cause of death, and Thriller was cremated. Staff workers at the reserve held a private service in her honor and buried her ashes.