Mourning in the Leipzig Zoo: the lion Majo died at the age of eight. As the zoo announced, the animal had recently eaten little and did not feel well overall. Therefore, the lion was under veterinary control. The darling of the public did not survive an examination under anesthesia: his circulation failed. According to the zoo, it was not possible to determine what Majo was suffering from.
“Birth and death are part of life and therefore also part of our everyday life. We are happy about the growth of offspring in endangered species such as the Asian elephant, and we are sad about the loss of old or, in the case of Majo, sick animals . We have to deal with both, it is part of our responsible task when dealing with the animals entrusted to us”, commented zoo director Jörg Junhold on the death of the animal.
Majo’s death brings back memories of dramatic scenes in the Leipzig Zoo. In 2016, the lion gained national fame when it broke out of its enclosure. On September 29, he and his fellow Motshegetsi managed to overcome the moat, which is between 6.60 meters and 7.90 meters wide and separates the predators from the visitors. “That was unimaginable for us to date,” said zoo boss Junhold at the time. The case had triggered discussions about safety measures in zoos and the usefulness of keeping carnivores in zoos in general.
It took the two lions three and a half hours to flee, and even police officers with submachine guns were on duty to prevent the animals from leaving the zoo. Majo could be pushed back into the pen, but Motshegetsi could not be knocked out even with tranquilizer darts. Since the anesthetic didn’t work, he was killed with a gun. Luckily, the outbreak happened before the zoo opened its doors in the morning. So visitors were not in danger.
Sources: Zoo Leipzig / DPA / “Image”
Watch the video: A biologist films dramatic moments during a stay in South Africa’s Sabi Sands game reserve. A lion had killed a buffalo as prey. But the big cat is ambushed by a no less dangerous hunter.
