Hansraj, the 24-year-old lion at Nehru Zoological Park has ended up on the sick list and put on care after it started refusing the feed.
According to the zoo officials, the lion has been showing symptoms typical to old age and has not been taking its regular diet for the last few days. Efforts were being made to provide feed in the form of soup and soft food.
“It is not actually down with any ailment but has senility problems that made us put Hansraj on the sick list,” informs the zoo education officer, K. Varasprasad. The teeth getting worn out affected it from accepting food while problems of joints due to the age made the feline unable to carry its weight, he says.
In the wild, the average lifespan of lions is put between 12 years to 15 years while in captivity they survive for 18 years and more.
“This lion with us is 24 years of age and has been healthy and fit all along,” the officials inform. Among these big cats at the zoo here, the longest to survive was ‘Rusthum' which lived for 25 years.
