Beloved lion dies at Riverbanks Zoo. Big cat was said to be North America’s oldest male lion.
A big lion that was a mainstay at Riverbanks Zoo and recognized as the oldest male lion in North America has died after nearly two decades of delighting visitors and zoo workers in Columbia.
The zoo made the announcement Friday in a Facebook post that spoke highly of the beloved feline. The lion, named Zuri, had come to the zoo as a young animal, recently reaching its 20th birthday, zoo officials said.
“Zuri was a staple of the zoo,’’ Riverbanks spokesman Matt Perron said. “For Riverbanks employees, his morning roars got the day going. He’ll be sorely missed and forever in the hearts of everyone at Riverbanks,’’
While it was not initially clear how the animal died, the zoo provided an update Friday afternoon saying that the lion had been euthanized.
Zuri had been suffering from a spinal condition and had trouble moving around, the zoo said. The zoo staff attempted to treat him, but ultimately decided there was little more they could do.
“With the possibility of paralysis and to alleviate his suffering, we made the compassionate decision to euthanize him,” zoo spokesman Greg Kanavel said in an email Friday afternoon. “We are grateful for the time we had with Zuri and will honor his memory,’’
Zuri had other problems late in life. The animal also had cancer at one point, prompting the amputation of a toe.
Officials said the lion exhibit had been closed for several days, but it has since reopened with two female lions that lived with Zuri. Officials said the females had been at the male lion’s side in recent days.
The male lion played a key role in helping advance the population of African lions in captivity, fathering 13 cubs, the zoo said. The lion display is near the tiger exhibit and is popular with visitors on the way in and out of Riverbanks.
The Felid Taxonomic Advisory Group of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums recognized Zuri as the oldest male lion in North America, according to Riverbanks. In the wild, male lions live a maximum of 15 years, but the average lifespan is shorter. Lions in captivity sometimes can live past 20.
Perron said the zoo will seek to replace Zuri with another male lion. Zuri had come to Riverbanks in 2005 from a zoo in Kansas.
Lions are considered apex predators in Africa, with males growing to more than 500 pounds, according to National Public Radio. Males like Zuri are characterized by their flowing manes.
This story was originally published August 30, 2024 at 11:16 AM.
