A male Asiatic lion named Atul breathed his last in Nehru Zoological Park on Thursday.
The 19-year-old animal died due to complications related to old age, a statement from the zoo informed. Atul was born in 1999 in the zoo, and sired 26 cubs which have been accommodated in the zoos of Visakhapatnam, Rajkot, Alipore, Delhi, Czech Republic, among others.
The lion had been off feed and unable to walk, and was under observation of zoo veterinarians for the past one week before his death, the statement said.
Post-mortem examination was conducted by eight veterinary experts from zoo, Veterinary Biological and Research Institute (VBRI), College of Veterinary Sciences, Rajendranagar, and LaCONES. The post-mortem has confirmed death due to senility related complications. Samples have been collected and sent to VBRI, Shantinagar for detailed investigation.
The lifespan of Asiatic Lion in the wild is 12 to 15 years and in captivity it is around 18 years, the statement said.
Published - October 04, 2018 11:43 pm IST
