Sad news comes from Frankfurt Zoo: young lioness Mira had to be euthanized just over a year after her birth due to a deformity of the skull. Yet everything looked like a happy ending when Asiatic lioness Zarina gave birth to three cubs in April 2018 - all apparently fit and healthy. The three lion cubs were not only lovingly welcomed by their parents. Zoo visitors also quickly took the three into their hearts. But in the last few months, Mira's movement coordination (ataxia) and other neurological symptoms became more and more conspicuous.
Since there was no improvement after symptomatic treatment, an appointment for clarification was made at the Hofheim veterinary clinic at the beginning of April. Mira's blood and other values were inconspicuous, an infection was not present. But unfortunately this was no reason to breathe a sigh of relief, because CT and MRT examinations revealed a structural change of the skull and brain, namely a cerebellar hernia. This malformation, the origin of which is unknown, was the cause of the young lioness's disturbed movements and sometimes absent-looking gaze.
At first, there was residual hope that Mira's condition would improve with intensive veterinary care and growth, especially since she also had phases in which she was inconspicuous and played normally with her two brothers. For months, the zoo veterinarians, in consultation with experts, as well as the team of animal caretakers, have therefore strived to improve the state of health or mitigate the symptoms. Unfortunately without success.
To clarify whether there are also pathological deviations in the two, so far inconspicuous, young animals Kiron and Yaro, Kiron was also examined in the animal hospital Hofheim. And indeed, his skull also shows a change - but to a much lesser extent than his sister. Like his brother Yaro, he still shows no symptoms. This was clearly different with Mira. Even visitors reported in recent weeks that the lioness moved staggeringly and unsteadily.
"Since it could not be ruled out that Mira was also suffering from severe headaches and it was clearly evident that she had no chance of a normal social lion life, we had to make the decision to put Mira down in consultation with the Asiatic Lion Studbook and the relevant veterinary authorities," explained zoo director Miguel Casares.
"It is very sad to lose MIRA, especially as she belongs to an endangered species. But animal welfare demanded decisive action here. Once we knew there was no further treatment option now, any further delay would have been indefensible," Casares continued.
If MIRA's brothers continue to show no clinical symptoms, they will be able to grow up normally.
