MIAMI – A 17-year-old lion at Zoo Miami was temporarily immobilized Tuesday and taken to an animal hospital for a thorough health checkup, Communications Director Ron Magill confirmed.
Recommended Videos
The procedure is part of the zoo’s preventative medicine program, which ensures animals receive top-notch care.
While male lions in the wild typically live to about 12 years due to declining physical abilities and competition from other lions, those in human care can reach their late teens or even early twenties, according to Magill. This extended lifespan is attributed to the high level of care and protection from predators, rivals, and disease.
Kwame’s examination included blood and urine tests, radiographs, an abdominal ultrasound, and routine dental, eye, and ear checkups, the zoo confirmed in a press release. He also had his claws trimmed and cleaned, and he received vaccinations for rabies, canine distemper, and feline distemper.
Magill said the results show that Kwame, who weighs 396 pounds, is in good health for his age. He has since returned to his habitat, where he is recovering well and is expected to be back on public display by the weekend.
These routine health exams are vital for Zoo Miami’s Animal Health Team to monitor the well-being of the zoo’s residents, Zoo officials confirmed.
They said wild animals often hide signs of illness to avoid becoming targets for predators, meaning that symptoms are usually advanced by the time they are visible. Regular checkups help detect and address issues early, ensuring better outcomes.
Lions are currently classified as vulnerable, with their population dropping by 43% since the 1990s, the new release stated. As of Tuesday, only 20,000 to 25,000 remain in the wild, facing threats such as habitat loss, human conflict, and poaching for their skins and bones.