A Sumatran tiger believed to be the oldest living in captivity has died in the US aged 25.

Djelita the tiger was euthanised at the Honolulu Zoo after complications from old age.

The zoo announced the tiger’s passing on its Facebook page.

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“With great sadness we have to announce that our beloved Sumatran tiger Djelita was humanely euthanised today,” the zoo said in a post.

“Complications with her advanced age necessitated the decision.”

Djelita was the oldest tiger of any subspecies on record in a managed collection worldwide, the zoo said.

Life expectancy for Sumatran tigers in the wild is about 12 years and in captivity about 20 years, whereas Djelita was 25 years old.

Honolulu Zoo director Baird Fleming told the Honolulu Advertiser newspaper “old ages catches up with everyone – even animals”.

“Although Djelita had a long and healthy life at the zoo, she was displaying signs that led to a unanimous decision that she was ready to move on,” Mr Fleming said.

“The Honolulu Zoo can be proud of its many years of excellent care for Djelita, which was part of a worldwide conservation effort to save Sumatran tigers from extinction.”

In the Facebook post, the zoo said only 200 Sumatran tigers lived in zoos as part of a global conservation effort.

“The Honolulu Zoo is proud of being a part of this effort and will continue to be so,” the zoo said in its post.

Djelita was born at the San Diego Wild Animal Park on March 26, 1991, and came to the Honolulu Zoo on November 25, 1992.

The Honolulu Zoo is home to two other Sumatran tigers, Berani and Chrissie, who have already produced cubs. The cubs have been sent abroad to other zoos, where they have fathered cubs of their own.