Franklin Park Zoo mourns demise of 14-year-old lion

Native Information

Kamaia, a male lion, was humanely euthanized on Saturday on account of declining well being.

Kamaia, a 14-year-old lion at Franklin Park Zoo, died on Saturday, in line with Zoo New England. 

Kamaia was humanely euthanized on account of declining well being, zoo officers stated.

Kamaia had been battling extreme pneumonia and different power well being points for a number of months. Kamaia was severely anemic with a tremendously enlarged spleen. He underwent a profitable splenectomy and blood transfusion on June 9 and a second surgical procedure to restore a hernia at his incision web site. 

In restoration from surgical procedure, zoo officers stated Kamaia spent the previous couple of months lounging within the solar together with his 14-year-old brother Dinari. 

“Kamaia was an unimaginable ambassador for his species, and we’re deeply saddened to share the information of his passing,” stated John Linehan, Zoo New England president and CEO. “All through the previous a number of months, his devoted care staff has labored tirelessly to deal with and look after Kamaia and make sure that he was comfy. This information isn’t simple, and we ask that you just hold his care staff in your ideas at this troublesome time.”

Kamaia and Dinari have resided at Franklin Park Zoo since 2015. Dinari can proceed to be seen in his outside habitat, zoo officers stated. 

“Kamaia was such a formidable presence,” stated Chris Bartos, an assistant curator at Zoo New England’s Franklin Park Zoo. “Kamaia was a favourite amongst his care staff, and he actually loved his enrichment together with tearing into containers and baggage to search for the treats hidden inside, in addition to rolling in uncommon scents. He will probably be tremendously missed by all who knew him.” 

Nationwide Geographic states that lions in captivity reside to a mean age of 25 years, whereas the life expectancy of a lion within the wild is about 12-16 years of age.