Australian Zoo Faces Backlash After Euthanizing Lioness Because Her Male Partner Died

Adelaide Zoo in Australia recently faced criticism after deciding to euthanize a pair of African lions, Amani and Mujambi. The decision followed a medical issue suffered by Mujambi, the 19-year-old male lion, which led the zoo to take what it described as a difficult but necessary step.

The zoo announced that both lions were euthanized on the same day, explaining that “both big cats are now at rest.” Mujambi had experienced a medical episode over the weekend, and despite efforts by the veterinary team to improve his condition, the zoo chose to end his suffering. Amani, the 23-year-old lioness, was put down shortly after, as zoo officials believed the negative impact of losing her long-time companion outweighed the benefits of keeping her alive.

Both lions had lived beyond their expected lifespan in the wild, which is typically around 15 years for African lions. Under zoo care, lions can live into their 20s, and at 23 and 19, Amani and Mujambi were both in the later stages of their lives.

The two lions had been together for 16 years and were described as being “very closely bonded.” Zoo curator Deb Barry highlighted their unique relationship, saying, “She swiped at him, growled and bossed him around, but she also wanted to be no further away from him than his shadow.”

Despite these explanations, the decision to euthanize Amani sparked a wave of outrage on social media. Many questioned whether euthanizing the healthy lioness was the only option. One user, Debi Ratta, expressed disbelief, asking, “Was this really the only option?” Others echoed the sentiment, accusing the zoo of acting too hastily and unnecessarily ending Amani’s life.

In response to the backlash, the zoo defended its decision, explaining that Amani was also dealing with age-related health issues that affected her wellbeing. They insisted the choice to euthanize both lions was made with the animals’ welfare in mind and not taken lightly. The zoo noted that the bond between Amani and Mujambi was strong and that Amani had not bonded in the same way with her human keepers, further influencing their decision.

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