Zoo pays tribute as big cats pass away

Lion and cheetah both popular with staff and visitors

- BY JOSH PENNINGTON

CHESTER Zoo has confirmed that two of its longstanding and popular big cats have died.

In a statement, the zoo has paid tribute to 18-year-old female lion Kiburi and 18-year-old male cheetah Singa.

The two big cats have long been popular characters at the zoo with both staff and visitors. Both of them have sadly passed away in recent weeks.

In a touching tribute to Kiburi, a spokesperson for Chester Zoo said her “gentle presence and quiet strength touched the hearts of many.”

The spokesperson said: “It’s with great sadness that we share the news that elderly female Asiatic lion Kiburi has sadly passed away at the age of 18. Over the past few months, our dedicated veterinary and carnivore teams have been closely monitoring Kiburi’s health to help her cope with the natural challenges of aging.

“Our teams made every effort to keep her comfortable and provide the highest level of care but recently her physical condition has deteriorated to the extent that her quality of life has started to be impacted.