Adelaide Zoo slammed by expert after putting down two beloved lions

A zoologist has slammed Adelaide Zoo after the heartbreaking decision was made to euthanise a lion after her partner was put down.

Mujambi, a 19-year-old male, suffered a medical episode over the weekend, Adelaide Zoo said.

Despite the dedicated efforts of the zoo’s veterinary team, the decision was made to humanely euthanise him to prevent further suffering.

However, shortly after 23-year-old Amani, and the oldest lioness in Australia, was also put to sleep.

Zoo officials said the negative impacts on her welfare without her partner outweighed any benefits of keeping the lioness alive.

However, zoologist, president and director of the Zoological Wildlife Foundation Mario Tabraue said he was “appalled” at the decision.

“There’s no logical reasoning or excuse for what was done here,” he told 7NEWS.com.au.

“It’s pathetic ... I have a 12-year-old leopard whose mate died three years ago and she’s living her life just fine.”

Tabraue believes other options should have been explored before the decision was made to euthanise Amani.

“Other options would have included to give the animal more enrichment,” he said.

“Another option would be to find it another mate or friend.

“But there’s absolutely no excuse for putting that animal down.”

In a statement addressing the lions’ death, a spokesperson for Zoos SA said the zoo community and SA public were grieving “along with our keepers, vets, staff and volunteers”.

“It’s taken our professional animal management team a great deal of time and many in depth discussions to reach the decision that was made, to euthanise Mujambi and Amani. We certainly wouldn’t expect the public to immediately appreciate such a difficult decision without knowing the intricacies of lion behaviour and understanding the specific history of these two lions.

“We’ve seen over 2000 comments on social media and the vast majority of those have been incredibly heartfelt and supportive.

“There has been a great deal of sadness, compassion and understanding for the difficult decision to euthanise Amani and Mujambi. While some commentators have questioned the decision, we appreciate that these people are passionate animal lovers and ultimately we all want the same thing, which is the very best outcome for any animal.”

Ainsley said lions were a social species and Amani’s specific behaviour had been considered before making the difficult decision.

“The likelihood of safely moving or integrating Amani into another pride or environment was considered too risky and stress-provoking,” he said.

The zoo has been approached for a response to criticism over the decision.

Mujambi, who was known for his striking mane and gentle demeanour, and Amani shared a deep bond, having lived together at the zoo for many years.

The zoo said it was now focused on honouring their legacy and supporting staff who cared deeply for the pair.

Adelaide Zoo, which is located in the parklands just north of the city centre, is Australia’s second oldest zoo, and operates on a non-profit basis.