COLUMBIA, S.C. — Riverbanks Zoo and Garden announced the death of their 20-year-old male lion, Zuri, on Friday.
Zuri, who had recently celebrated his 20th birthday, spent 19 of those years at Riverbanks Zoo.
Curators at Riverbanks said he was one of the zoo’s most iconic animals and the oldest lion in North America.
“He was such a big presence here,” said Alyson Proveaux, the zoo’s mammal curator. “Anybody who knew him is heartbroken over the loss, but so glad they got the time they did with him.”
Zuri arrived at Riverbanks Zoo as a young cub in 2005.
“He came to us when he was very young, out on his own for the first time,” Proveaux said. “Every keeper that took care of him really contributed to the fact that he made it to 20 years old.”
After Zuri's death, two nine-year-old female lions, Thabisa and Lindelani, who were part of Zuri's pride, still live at the zoo.
Proveaux said the zoo is closely monitoring the pair to ensure their well-being.
“We’ve had transitions before,” she said. “When Zuri came, he lived with two different females, and they both passed away. We replaced them with Thabisa and Lindelani. They’re doing very well, and we’re in close contact with the Species Survival Plan to discuss our next moves.”
Riverbanks Zoo, dedicated to breeding and preserving certain species, plans to bring in a new male lion. Zoo officials said the decision will depend on upcoming plans to renovate the lion exhibit.
“We possibly have some renovations coming up that may change our plans,” Proveaux added. “Right now, we’re just monitoring the welfare of the girls, making sure they’re acting normal, and not showing signs of missing their pride mate.”
Talking about Zuri’s passing, Proveaux said that the zoo had been monitoring his declining mobility for a while and that ultimately led to his death.
“The median age for a lion is around 15, so Zuri making it five years beyond that is amazing,” she said with a smile.
The zoo is awaiting necropsy results from the University of Georgia to gain more insight into Zuri’s health issues.
In the wild, lions are facing increasing challenges.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, only an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 lions remain worldwide, and the group currently lists them as “vulnerable.”
Riverbanks Zoo said they remain committed to lion conservation and hopes to continue contributing to the species' survival.