The lion from the “La Reina” zoo died after convulsing due to a heat stroke that he suffered inside his cage the day before yesterday, between 2 and 3 in the afternoon. The feline was one of the oldest tenants of the recreational center.
Park staff reported that the animal’s organs collapsed due to heat stroke. The lion did not lack water to constantly hydrate himself, since there are additional pools in the cave inside his cage. In addition, the space is covered, cool, and ventilated, the staff said.
However, the high temperatures over the weekend, which were more than 104 °F degrees, caused the animal to not resist and die.
They gave him oral electrolytes and medication when they realized he was feeling unwell, but nothing could be done.
The zoo staff recalled that that day in the morning they fed the feline like every day.
As established in the protocol, the death was notified to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) to fill out the corresponding forms to remove the animal from the recreational park.
As a result of what happened, the surveillance tours in each of the cages in the enclosure were reinforced. In the case of felines, water is constantly thrown into the caves, where the floor has unevenness so that the liquid is dispersed and they can cool off.
In addition, they receive ice pops made from blood so that they cool off and do not have stress.
As for the birds in the zoo, they receive greater care because their plumage makes them overheated due to the high temperatures.
After the death of the lion, two lionesses and the Bengal tigers now remain in the “La Reina” park.
TYT Newsroom