Auckland Zoo euthanises elderly male lions Zulu and Malik

Tuesday, 13 April 2021

Auckland Zoo has euthanised its elderly male lions, Zulu and Malik.

It said it made the “extremely tough” but “kindest call” on Tuesday morning.

The decision was made on welfare grounds, it said.

The half-brothers were born weeks apart at Auckland Zoo in early 2004.

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They have spent their entire lives together, mainly in Auckland and at Wellington Zoo.

Dr James Chatterton, the zoo’s head of veterinary services, said Zulu and Malik had degenerative diseases of the bones and joints.

The team had first noticed Zulu experiencing stiffness and reduced mobility in his hind legs in November.

This worsened despite anti-inflammatory and pain relief medication.

Chatterton said staff had seen Malik begin to display similar signs.

“Malik is at an earlier stage of this degenerative disease, but having spent his entire life with half-brother Zulu, with whom he’s so closely bonded, being left on his own would be unacceptably stressful and compromise his welfare,” he said.

“He also couldn’t be sent to another zoo. As well as the risks and stress of moving an elderly animal like Zulu, due to the complex social dynamics of lions, attempting to integrate him with any other lions would also be extremely dangerous, and likely fatal.”

Lauren Booth, the zoo’s carnivore team leader, said Zulu and Malik were a privilege to look after in their twilight years.

She said although the lions had spent the majority of their lives at Wellington Zoo, they had settled back in at Auckland Zoo in 2018 as if they had never left.

“Male lions like Zulu and Malik have such a strong majestic presence, you can’t help but fall in love with them, and be inspired to care,” Booth said.

“My team and I loved these beautiful boys’ natures and watching the bond they shared with each other, as we know so many of our visitors did too, and we will miss them greatly.”

Auckland Zoo’s decision comes a few days after Wellington Zoo put down its elderly lionesses, Djane and Zahra.

This means there are now no lions at either Auckland or Wellington zoos.

Auckland Zoo said it was committed to having lions again as part of an Australasian programme for the species, but could not say when that might be.