Elyse Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 The Calgary Zoo's 16-year-old lion, Okonko, died Friday afternoon from heart failure following an intricate surgery to remove its cancerous spleen. "Over the past year, we could see that Okonko's age was gradually catching up to him," said Jamie Dorgan, a manager at the zoo. "His appetite and activity levels had been slowing down and we were monitoring him daily. "Over the past week, we saw a more dramatic decrease in his appetite and the decision was made to take him to the animal health centre for examination and surgery if necessary." A large mass on his spleen was found by veterinarians after an examination. Since the cancer was isolated to the spleen, staff were hopeful for Okonko's recovery for a brief period but his heart failed post-surgery. Okonko was born Dec. 8, 1995, in Aalborg Zoo in Denmark and arrived in Calgary April 23, 1997, along with three female siblings. One of the females died Feb. 19, 2011, of age-related health issues but Okonko's two remaining siblings continue to reside at the Calgary Zoo. The average life expectancy for a lion in captivity is 13 years, according to Walker's Mammals of the World. http://ca.news.yahoo.com/calgary-zoo-lion-dies-following-surgery-000747748.html;_ylt=Ag4unrGkPkAoLptQRIlDfut1ssB_;_ylu=X3oDMTQ3bnVhZm9yBG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBTY2llbmNlU0YgQW5pbWFsc1NTRgRwa2cDYzM3NGNiYWEtNDFhYi0zYWNiLWJkZDUtMzVjMmUzNDQ2ODBmBHBvcwMxBHNlYwN0b3Bfc3RvcnkEdmVyAzYwMTM1YjIwLTQ5NTMtMTFlMS1hZjZlLTY2Y2M0MmUyY2QxNw--;_ylg=X3oDMTIzdDNkOHVvBGludGwDY2EEbGFuZwNlbi1jYQRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANzY2llbmNlfGFuaW1hbHMEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnMEdGVzdAM-;_ylv=3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mydiamond Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 that's one old lion not surprised he didn't survive the surgery but YES I'm surprised he managed to live until that age. U should hear news about a local zoo near my town =\ the zoo owner has a financial breakdown and couldn't afford to feed the zoo's carnivores. Ended up throwing some deers+gazelles they have to the lion cage O.o it has been a hot issue for several years and now none visits the zoo anymore. Well some still do, but I know I won't x( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irene Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 http://ca.news.yahoo.com/calgary-zoo-lion-dies-following-surgery-000747748.html;_ylt=Ag4unrGkPkAoLptQRIlDfut1ssB_;_ylu=X3oDMTQ3bnVhZm9yBG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBTY2llbmNlU0YgQW5pbWFsc1NTRgRwa2cDYzM3NGNiYWEtNDFhYi0zYWNiLWJkZDUtMzVjMmUzNDQ2ODBmBHBvcwMxBHNlYwN0b3Bfc3RvcnkEdmVyAzYwMTM1YjIwLTQ5NTMtMTFlMS1hZjZlLTY2Y2M0MmUyY2QxNw--;_ylg=X3oDMTIzdDNkOHVvBGludGwDY2EEbGFuZwNlbi1jYQRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANzY2llbmNlfGFuaW1hbHMEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnMEdGVzdAM-;_ylv=3 well at least he had a good safe life .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leyka&Diva Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 wow that an old age for a lion r.i.p lion x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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