Remembering Tajiri
We are heartbroken to share that we have said goodbye to our beloved lioness, Tajiri.
In recent weeks, our devoted animal care team carefully monitored her for a decreased appetite and behavioral changes, and scheduled an anesthetized exam in an effort to further diagnose her condition. With the results of the exam, which included x-rays, ultrasound, urinalysis and bloodwork, our veterinary team determined she was suffering from an aggressive form of cancer, and made the difficult and compassionate decision to humanely euthanize her. At 15 years old, she was considered geriatric. The life expectancy of lions in the wild is 10-14 years, and in zoos is 15-20.
Tajiri was born at the Racine Zoo in Wisconsin and came to Philadelphia in January of 2012. She and her partner, Makini, welcomed four female cubs in June of 2014 as a part of an Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan breeding recommendation. She became one of the first cats in Big Cat Falls to use the 20-foot-tall feeding pole. She demonstrated her incredible hunting skills to climb to the top, grab her food, and safely leap back down to dig in to her prize. She was beloved by her caregivers and served as an incredible ambassador for her species for the hundreds of thousands of guests who had the chance to know her.
From Animal Care Specialist Michelle S.
“Tajiri was one of a kind. She was fierce, spunky, and fearless. Whether she was doing a little wiggle before climbing the feed pole with ease, or stalking and chasing Makini around their habitat, her energy would always shine through and bring a smile to my face. Tajiri will be greatly missed, and we will take exceptional care of Makini for her.”
From Senior Veterinary Technician Jenna H.
“I spent a lot of time with Tajiri when she first came to the Zoo. She was always a super engaged and a very fun cat to work with. She LOVED any toys and enrichment we would give her. Her favorite items were big cardboard boxes. She would move them all around and would hide behind them to play. If we gave her other boxes and paper items, she would have so much fun destroying them and then sitting proudly atop of her work.”
Our animal care team will be closely monitoring Makini to ensure his health and well-being. Our animal care specialists will continue to closely monitor him, increasing their daily interactions with him and offering behavioral enrichment. The team is in touch the AZA SSP program for African lions to make sure the entire AZA community is supporting his transition. As an accredited zoo, we will always maintain a gold standard of animal care and well-being.
African lions are found in the grasslands and savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa. They are classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and are threatened by habitat loss and hunting.
