The suspected 12-year-old tabby cat was the lone survivor of a fatal fall at Bryce Canyon National Park earlier this week.
UTAH, USA — A tabby cat was the lone survivor of a near 400-foot fall that killed two people in Utah on Monday.
Mirage, a tabby cat estimated to be around 12 years old, was discovered in a soft-sided pet carrier next to the bodies of two people at Bryce Canyon National Park, as reported by Best Friends Animal Society.
Tourists found them 380 feet below a viewpoint, later identified as 45-year-old Matthew Nannen and 58-year-old Bailee Crane, the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office stated.
Hauptman said the carrier Mirage was found in was dirty and torn, but otherwise weathered the fall well.
“She was matted and appeared a bit sore, but remained friendly during examination. She was also drinking and eating on her own,” said Alina Hauptman, a spokesperson for the animal society. “Her bloodwork came back normal, but she has a few broken ribs.”
It’s unclear how the cat survived with as few injuries as she did.
The tabby was originally taken to Pawz Dogs boarding facility in Panguitch, but the sheriff contacted Best Friends in Kanab, Utah, to help.
“Despite surviving a 400-foot fall, this remarkable little cat never lost her gentle spirit. She’s a living miracle with a heart full of sweetness — still purring, still trusting, like nothing ever happened,” she said. “Her resilience is awe-inspiring.”
She said Mirage hasn’t given any of the veterinary staff any problems and has been very patient as they treat her.
Sheriff’s office officials said they’re not sure how Nannen and Crane fell, but the two did cross over safety railings of a viewing area late Monday or early Tuesday.
The two bodies were recovered with the help of park rangers, search and rescue teams and a helicopter Wednesday.
A sheriff’s office spokesperson said the two were living in a U-Haul van and recently spent a lot of time in Arizona, but Florida was their last state of permanent residence.
Bryce Canyon is a colorful maze of spires, cliffs and ravines eroded in soft rock and soil at the edge of a plateau. More than 2 million people visit the park every year.
