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It is with profound sadness that Zoo Miami recently announced the passing of Jabari, the zoo’s 17-year-old male lion.
For the past few years Jabari has been treated for chronic arthritis, mostly in his upper spine, that limited his range of motion and level of comfort. Recently, he developed mobility issues and despite a range of treatments aimed at providing pain relief and a good quality of life, he was no longer comfortable.
With all treatment options exhausted and no other path available for a cure or relief, the very difficult decision was made to euthanize him. At nearly 18 years old, Jabari exceeded the normal lifespan of a male lion in the wild which rarely lives past the age of 12.
Jabari arrived at Zoo Miami with his brother, Kwame, in November 2008 from the Racine Zoo in Wisconsin. During his time at Zoo Miami, he fathered several cubs and became the only adult lion at the zoo to lead a pride and share a habitat with an adult female and cubs.
Iconic images of him on the habitat surrounded by the cubs left a lasting and unforgettable impression on the many thousands of people who were privileged to see him. It was the only time in the history of the zoo that such a sight could be seen. His legacy lives on in those cubs that have become part of other prides around the country.
Lions are classified as “threatened” in the wild where they live on less than 10 percent of their historic range. Their greatest threats are habitat loss and human conflict due to them sharing over 50 percent of their habitat with humans and the livestock under their care.
As part of its conservation commitment, Zoo Miami provides funding to Lion Landscapes, an organization working in Africa dedicated to protecting lions in the wild. In addition, it participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) program designed to partner with local organizations working on the ground and communities with lions across Africa.
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