We are sad to share that London Zoo’s much-loved Asiatic lion Bhanu, had to be euthanised on Wednesday 8 April, after a sudden deterioration in multiple age-related conditions that our vets had been managing for several years.
Bhanu arrived at London Zoo in 2016 and moved straight into Land of the Lions, becoming a firm favourite with visitors. He fathered three cubs Shanti, Syanii and Mali who lived there with him and their mum Arya.
Having cared for Bhanu for 10 years, his dedicated keepers were quick to notice a change in his appetite and demeanour at the end of March and our vets began keeping an extra close eye on him.
Unfortunately, his condition deteriorated until he was showing clear signs of cognitive impairment, along with bodily stiffness, lethargy, poor appetite and vomiting. At 16 years old, Bhanu was an elderly lion reaching the end of his natural lifespan.
After keeping him under close observation it was apparent his condition could not be improved with treatment and the kindest outcome would be euthanasia.
Bhanu will be very much missed by all staff, members and visitors to London Zoo, but none more than his keepers.
London Zoo lion keeper Tara Humphrey, shared some of her reflections on Bhanu:
“I’ve worked with many lions before and he really stood out. He had such a unique personality, a very proud and strong male lion. Over the last five or six years he really grew into his personality, and he connected with a lot of the keepers.
“For a few years after he arrived he wasn’t interested in any of the enrichment we put out. We tried all sorts, but he never touched it. One day we put something out for the girls and he just decided ‘what’s this?’ and started batting it with his paws and suddenly just twigged! But even though he loved to play with enrichment after that, if he saw you looking he’d stop and pretend he wasn’t interested! Cardamon seeds were always his favourite though, he could always sniff those out and roll around in them and rub against them.
“We know he meant a lot to our team, but also to everyone around the zoo including many members and Fellows who visited him regularly. He wasn’t just our boy, he was a boy of ZSL and everyone that cared for ZSL. He was a very special lion.”