LAHORE: An African lion born in Lahore Zoo in 1998 died on Tuesday.
The lion called 'Jumbo' died after completing its natural life cycle which runs between 15 to 18 years. He died at the age of 16.
The lion had been showing the telling effects of age for the last many months, Zoo Deputy Director Muhammad Mudassar told Dawn.
He said that three weeks ago the lion's condition deteriorated. He was put on drip and its blood work was fine. The lion, Mr Mudassar said, was given treatment as suggested by different vets from the University of Veterinary Sciences and the VRI.
The lion gave up taking food three days ago. It was again put on treatment but it stopped breathing on Tuesday and at 10:30, it was declared dead.
Jumbo was born to mother Rani and father Leo in 1998 at the Lahore Zoo. The 90s breed of lions in the zoo was conceived by Jumbo. The necropsy of the body would be held at the UVAS and its skin and head would be handed over to some taxidermist. The zoo plans to keep the stuffed lion in its museum.
With the death of Jumbo, the Zoo is left with seven lions -- two females and five males. On Tuesday, many keepers and staff of the zoo looked visibly sad over the death of the animal bred by them for good 16 years.
Zoo Director Naeem Bhatti told Dawn the zoo under an exchange programme would pull in more animals, including lions.
He said the two crocodiles brought from Karachi under the exchange programme were doing well.