Garden City Zoo Euthanizes 10-year-old African Lion Due to Failing Health

The Lee Richardson Zoo in Garden City has euthanized a 10-year-old African lion due to its declining health.

The Zoo said Asani was put to sleep on Tuesday. He started displaying neurological symptoms last month, but he was largely unresponsive to treatment. His condition drastically declined in the last few days of his life, “forcing the difficult decision to be made to humanely euthanize him due to his quality of life.”

Preliminary necropsy results point to meningitis as the cause of his neurological issues.

“His wide eyes and timid demeanor made him stand out amongst the other lions and made it easy for staff to love him. He moved at his own pace, whether it be shifting inside or savoring his diet. His modest personality made it even more special when he would get excited for his diet by doing his ‘bunny hops’,” said Animal Care Curator Carrie Thurman.

Lead Keeper Isabelle Fricano recalled Asani looking at her on some evenings when she’d call him to come inside.

“He’d just turn his head away and continue to enjoy the sun. He was a very smart lion,” Fricano said.

Asani came to the zoo in 2016 with his brother Bantu. Bantu and lions Razi and Amali continue to reside at the zoo.

Lions are the second largest of the ‘big cat’ species, second only to the Siberian tiger in size. Over roughly the last 30 years, the African lion populations have been cut nearly in half, with just 20,000-30,000 remaining.