Remembering Zenda, Philadelphia Zoo's 25-year-old Female African Lion

Zenda, Philadelphia Zoo's 25-year-old Female African Lion, Dies

Zenda, Philadelphia Zoo's 25-year-old Female African Lion, Dies (Photo: Philly Zoo)

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Philadelphia, PA — The Philadelphia Zoo sadly announced that Zenda, a 25-year-old female African lion, was euthanized on Thursday, December 29th, due to an acute decline in her mobility and behavior.  At 25, Zenda was the oldest African lion in the United States zoo population by several years, significantly exceeding the 17-year typical life expectancy for zoo lions. Philadelphia, PA — The Philadelphia Zoo sadly announced that Zenda, a 25-year-old female African lion, was euthanized on Thursday, December 29th, due to an acute decline in her mobility and behavior. At 25, Zenda was the oldest African lion in the United States zoo population by several years, significantly exceeding the 17-year typical life expectancy for zoo lions.


Zenda was born at the Johannesburg Zoo in South Africa in July 1991 and arrived in Philadelphia in July 1993 with additional female lions, Jezebel and Vinkel, and the male lion Merlin. The pride relocated temporarily to the Columbus Zoo in 2004 and then returned for the opening of the new Niagra Big Cat Falls exhibit in 2006. During her many years in Philadelphia, Zenda was one of the Zoo’s most loved and popular animals.

“This remarkable cat will be missed by staff and guests alike, particularly by the keepers who catered to her changing needs as she grew old,” said Dr. Andy Baker, Chief Operating Officer at Philadelphia Zoo. He also noted Zenda’s role in the Zoo’s recent innovations. “Despite their already advancing age, Zenda and her pride mates were eager explorers of the habitat time-share system allowed by the design of Big Cat Falls when we opened it in 2006. Their engagement was one of the inspirations for our pioneering Zoo-wide trail system concept,” said Baker. “Zoo 360 – a new way for animals to experience a zoo – is part of Zenda’s legacy.

Philadelphia Zoo is home to six other African lions who live at Key Bank Big Cat Falls: Makini, a seven-year-old male; a six-year-old female; Tajiri, and their four female offspring Kataba, Mali, Msinga, and Sabi, all born in June 2014.

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