Adelaide Zoo without lions for first time in 140 years after euthanising Mujambi, 19, Amani, 23; health, wellbeing issues
Adelaide Zoo's lions Mujambi, 19, and Amani, 23, who were ethanaised together in 2024 for health and wellbeing reasons. Zoo director Dr Phil Ainsley described the relationship between Amani and Mujambi as "quite remarkable. Many visitors [would have seen] them sitting up on the grass hill, pretty well nose to nose."
Image courtesy Zoos South Australia
Adelaide Zoo was without lions in 2024 for the first time in 140 of its 141 years, after Amani and Mujambi were euthanised together. Both the lions were euthanised after male Mujambi suffered a medical episode. Aookeepers decided it would be too risky and stressful to move or integrate his “closely bonded” female partner Amani into another pride or environment.
With Amani, at 23, the oldest lioness in Australia, and Mujambi 19, both s were considered elderly. In the wild, African lions lived to around 12 years. Zoos SA chief executive Elaine Bensted said both lions had been under medical treatment and “we really didn't want Amani's last, what might have been months, to be pining for the male that she'd been partnered with for so long." Bensted said it was a "really sad day for the staff who've cared for them for so long. And I think their ages were testament of the care they've had over many, many years." Mujambi had health concerns, including testicular cancer early in life and then seizures, as a young lion.
Adelaide Zoo director Dr Phil Ainsley, said the lions had been a bonded pair for 16 years after Amani arrived in 2002 and Mujambi in 2007. He said lions, unlike some other species, were "incredibly social" and moving or integrating Amani into another pride or environment was considered not to be in her "best interests": "For example, tigers we know potentially can live in isolation. That’s not how it works for African lions. So normally you'll either get a pride or as they get older a couple living together.” Ainsley described the relationship between Amani and Mujambi as "quite remarkable. Many visitors [would have seen] them sitting up on the grass hill, pretty well nose to nose."
Adelaide Zoo looked set to remain without lions for some time, with previously developed plans for a $10 million new habitat unfunded. In the meantime, the zoo planned to turn the enclosure that housed Amani and Mujambi into an expanded area for its Sumatran tigers.
