Overview
- The Philadelphia Zoo announced that staff made the humane decision to euthanize Makini after his health declined, leaving the institution without any African lions.
- Zoo officials described Makini, about 17.5 years old and considered geriatric, as suffering from advanced arthritis and recent hind-end weakness that made walking difficult.
- Makini arrived from the Tulsa Zoo in 2011 and served as a public ambassador who fathered four cubs with his longtime mate, Tajiri, who was euthanized by the zoo last year.
- Zoo care staff and visitors have posted tributes to Makini’s distinctive, playful personality and said his loss is deeply felt by the animal care team.
- The Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan coordinates breeding and transfers among accredited institutions, and the zoo says those consultations will guide any decision about bringing lions back or moving animals elsewhere.