Four-year-old lioness Aaradhana died at the city zoo of a congenital medical condition on Tuesday. The post-mortem examination and cremation were done later in the day.
Zoo vet Jacob Alexander said Aaradhana was suffering from a condition called ‘megacolon’ which affects normal bowel movement. The animal was in a critical condition for the last three days and was administered IV fluids.
Aaradhana and her brother Akash were born on April Fools’ day at the zoo on 2011. Their parents, Ayush and Aiswarya, who were siblings, were born at the zoo on May 23, 2000.
Zoo officials said this inbreeding is most likely the cause of Aaradhana’s medical condition.
Akash was suffering from paralysis of the limbs. He was cured of this condition and is now at the Thrissur zoo.
Hybrid lions
Dr. Alexander said there were plans to bring over ‘pure’ Asiatic lions to the city zoo.
However, this may become possible only if the zoo gave away all its ‘hybrid lions’ (lions who have a mixed, Asian-African, lineage).
Once it gets pure breed lions, the zoo can put in place a breeding/conservation programme.
