Zoo Miami is in a period of mourning following the death of Kwame, its last lion, who was euthanized due to deteriorating health from chronic illness. As Local 10 News reported, Kwame’s advanced arthritis, particularly in his upper spine, severely limited his mobility and after a recent decline, staff made the “difficult decision” to put him down yesterday.
In the weeks leading to his death, treatments to manage Kwame’s pain failed to improve his condition, and he was suffering from extreme weakness in his hindquarters. According to Local 10 News, Kwame would have celebrated his 18th birthday today, outliving most of his wild counterparts by several years. His brother Jabari, who recently passed away in July, had also struggled with chronic arthritis.
The pair had arrived from the Racine Zoo in Wisconsin back in November 2008 and quickly endeared themselves to Zoo Miami visitors, becoming especially beloved as they fathered several cubs over the years. With the zoo’s lion enclosure now empty, plans are underway to bring in new lions through the Lion Species Survival Plan. As NBC Miami noted, this initiative is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ conservation efforts…