It is with profound sadness that Zoo Miami recently announced the passing of Jabari, the zoo’s 17-year-old male lion.
For the past few years Jabari has been treated for chronic arthritis, mostly in his upper spine, that limited his range of motion and level of comfort. Recently, he developed mobility issues and despite a range of treatments aimed at providing pain relief and a good quality of life, he was no longer comfortable.
With all treatment options exhausted and no other path available for a cure or relief, the very difficult decision was made to euthanize him. At nearly 18 years old, Jabari exceeded the normal lifespan of a male lion in the wild which rarely lives past the age of 12…