A 3-year-old lion was euthanized Saturday at the Denver Zoo after liver disease caused severe seizures.
Sango, the father of two cubs born in September, began having seizures about a week ago, according to news release from the zoo. His muscle tremors worsened and he was unable to walk or position himself to drink water.
Veterinarians diagnosed liver disease, the zoo said. An abdominal scope showed his liver was highly abnormal and his gall bladder was enlarged. He had been treated for hepatic encephalopathy, a condition that affects brain function once the liver is unable to clear blood toxins from the body.
Sango’s caretakers tried everything possible to help the lion, but they decided on Saturday that his quality of life was gone, the news release said.
“This is devastating for us,” said Betsy Stringer, a staff veterinarian. “Our time with Sango was too short. His condition worsened so quickly and so severely that euthanasia was our only option.”
Sango was born July 28, 2012, at the Ellen Trout Zoo in Lufkin, Texas. He was raised by zookeepers after his mother rejected him, the news release said.
Sango moved to Denver in June 2013 to begin a pride. In September, he and 3-year-old lioness Neliah, had , Kalu and Kamara.
The cubs were in November.
Zookeepers said Sango was playful but often timid. He grew more confident after his cubs were born, the news release said.
Sango was patient with the cubs, allowing them to play with his mane and chasing them around the yard.
With Sango’s passing, the zoo now has two adult lions and two cubs. The other lion is a 3-year-old female named Sabi.
The average life span of lion living in a zoo is 16.8 years.
An animal autopsy will be performed at Colorado State University.
Noelle Phillips: 303-954-1661, nphillips@denverpost.com or @Noelle_Phillips
