BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A feminine lion was fatally injured whereas being launched to a newly acquired male companion on the Birmingham Zoo in Alabama, officers mentioned Tuesday.
Akili, who was born in 2005 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and had been on the Birmingham Zoo since 2007, couldn’t be saved after being injured by a lion named Josh, who had been on the zoo since April.
The sluggish technique of introducing the 2 lions to one another had begun beforehand, the zoo mentioned in an announcement, and Akili was badly injured inside minutes of a gathering on Monday.
“Animal introductions are at all times dangerous as a result of wild animals could be unpredictable and we can’t management their interactions,” mentioned Hollie Colahan, the zoo’s deputy director, in an announcement.
The introduction was performed on a day the zoo was closed so no guests had been current, mentioned Jennifer Ogilvie, a spokeswoman.
“Josh is ok and can proceed to obtain the superb care he at all times receives,” she mentioned.
Josh was delivered to the zoo as substitute for one more male lion that died in 2021, the assertion mentioned. Dozens of individuals expressed sorrow over Akili’s dying in response to an announcement by the zoo on social media.
“How devastating. She was a magnificence!” one particular person wrote.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Anybody can learn Conversations, however to contribute, you ought to be registered Torstar account holder. If you don’t but have a Torstar account, you’ll be able to create one now (it’s free)
