Age is catching up to lioness, Asante. 🦁

Both lions will be off exhibit at Topeka Zoo for an indefinite amount of time as lioness Asante is being closely monitored due to a health scare. After not having much interest in food (including her favorite, goat’s milk) Monday, her care team and vet staff performed a physical exam Monday which included giving fluids and drawing blood to check her kidney values – Asante has been previously diagnosed with renal disease, something that is unfortunately very common in geriatric cats of all sizes. The median lifespan of a lioness in human care is 16, although they are known to live to 20. Asante’s care team celebrated her 21st birthday with her in April. She is currently the oldest living lioness in an AZA accredited Zoo.

In the meantime, male lion Tatu has been kept near her to provide comfort for them both.

💛 Along with Asante, the Zoo has many animals living in its care that have passed their median life expectancy including Gertie the llama, Tembo the African elephant, Rudy & Mawas the Bornean orangutans, Jackie the two-toed sloth, and the pair of grey-crowned cranes.

Only ONE WEEK away from the first BOO! at the Zoo! 🎃🍬

We can't wait to see all our visitors in boo-tiful costumes on October 18th & 25th. From 9 am - 3 pm, over 40 local businesses and vendors will be around the Zoo passing out goodies to trick-or-treaters.

BOO! at the Zoo is generously sponsored this year by FIT Excavating - Join us for some fall fun, as the event is INCLUDED in Zoo General Admission. Friends of the Zoo members receive free access and will have their own express entry lane at both Admissions. Purchase a membership here: https://topekazoo.org/membership/

You can also pre-purchase General Admission tickets (valid for any date including both BOO! dates) by visiting https://topekazoo.org/membership/

This fall weather has made our Caturdays PURRFECT (although only one of these pictured species has the capability of purring 🐆)

#caturday #happycaturday #purrfect #fallweather #topekazoo