Chester Zoo has paid tribute to one of its female Asiatic lions, Kumari, who passed on recently aged 17, much longer than she would have been expected to live in the wild.
Kumari has been staying at the zoo since 2011 after arriving together with sister Kiburi. They have since occupied two habitats at the zoo. The larger one, built in 2019, is 4,790 square metres and emulates the scrubland savannahs of the Gir Forest in India, where the last Asiatic lions live in the wild. There are thought to be fewer than 650 of the lions still living in the wild, making them highly endangered.
Chester Zoo’s animal and plant director, Mike Jordan, said the lion had enjoyed:
“…a long and healthy life—far exceeding the typical lifespan of Asiatic lions in the wild, which is around 12 years. This is a true testament to the exceptional levels of care shown by our carnivore and vet teams since she arrived at Chester Zoo, alongside her sister Kiburi in 2011.”
He also said that Kumari had been given daily veterinary care and closely monitored by the zoo’s vets and the carnivore team, but the decision was made to let her pass peacefully after her health continued to decline.
The zoo’s conservation breeding programmes are one of the things that puts Chester well and truly on the map. If you’ve been attracted to study in Chester but need somewhere to stay, you can find bills-included student accommodation in Chester in popular areas like Hoole and the Garden Quarter.
Written By
Mark