While I was reading the paper this morning, Carter and Grant saw the photograph of this lion on the back page. They both started saying "Lion, Lion" it was so cute! Carter is at the age where he is asking LOTS of questions! So here is the conversation....
Carter: That is a lion Mama!
Me: Yes, it is!
Carter: Mama, what do lions eat?
Me: (thinking...long pause...and trying to be G-rated) Well, they eat meat!
Carter: (Thinking and then another long pause) Are WE meat????
Me: (laughing hysterically) Yes Carter, yes we are!
Carter: (laughing and giggling)
Maybe you had to be there, but my Heaven's, it was soooo stinkin' funny and so unexpected!!!!
The lioness at out zoo was euthanized Monday, she was 21 years old! I have loved photographing her over the years when we have visited the zoo! She was a beautiful animal! These first pictures were taken last January. I have many pictures of her, I just never realized how old she was.
The first one is pretty blurry, she was eyeing Carter's apple and roared fiercely and knocked us all back even though the glass was there to protect us. At the bottom, I included a picture of her partner, Mr. Lion who is also 21 years old. He is deaf and arthritic but doing well according to the zoo officials.
THE BELOW PASSAGE IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Copied from the above link!
Reid Park Zoo's 21-year-old African lioness was euthanized Monday morning after zoo officials deemed her progressive arthritis and old age too much for her to bear.
A-Tatu's health had been watched carefully by zoo officials over the past few years, said Reid Park Zoo administrator Susan Basford.
After careful medical consideration between supervisors and the zoo veterinarian, the decision was made to put her to sleep, she said.
The average life expectancy of lions in captivity is 20 years compared with 15 years in the wild.
There are two remaining lions at the zoo, one of which is 21 years old. Although he is deaf and moving slowly, he still maintains a high quality of life, said a media release.
"We have a lot of older animals that we keep a close eye on," Basford said.
The last animal euthanized at Reid Park Zoo was Yebo, a giraffe that also suffered from arthritis, said Basford. Yebo was euthanized in April 2007.
Zoo officials haven't decided yet on bringing in another lion, Basford said.
"We may wait awhile and reassess the situation," said Basford. "It would be nice to get a youngster here."
A-Tatu's health had been watched carefully by zoo officials over the past few years, said Reid Park Zoo administrator Susan Basford.
After careful medical consideration between supervisors and the zoo veterinarian, the decision was made to put her to sleep, she said.
The average life expectancy of lions in captivity is 20 years compared with 15 years in the wild.
There are two remaining lions at the zoo, one of which is 21 years old. Although he is deaf and moving slowly, he still maintains a high quality of life, said a media release.
"We have a lot of older animals that we keep a close eye on," Basford said.
The last animal euthanized at Reid Park Zoo was Yebo, a giraffe that also suffered from arthritis, said Basford. Yebo was euthanized in April 2007.
Zoo officials haven't decided yet on bringing in another lion, Basford said.
"We may wait awhile and reassess the situation," said Basford. "It would be nice to get a youngster here."
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