Kuvú in the picture
Kivú stopped breathing on Friday night after living nearly 19 years in captivity.
It was born in confinement in a Cuban zoo in April 1998 and six months later it was separated from its parents to be transferred to San José as a donation. Simón Bolívar Zoo became its home for 18 years.
A few-square-meter cage saw it grow along with Kariba, its life partner. Together, they crowned themselves as the kings of the capital’s zoo, where thousands of people visited them and, with shouts and emotion, asked them to roar in that little jungle.
Kivú could never run long distances or develop its skills. In addition, living in a cage was not its only punishment: its life and travel companion, Kariba, died of cancer on July 23th, 2011.
Since then, Kivú’s health deteriorated, to the point that hundreds of visitors published in social networks strong criticism against the administration of the park.
The Pro Zoo Foundation (FUNDAZOO), in charge of the zoo since 1994, reported that the lion’s health rapidly deteriorated: it went from eating 8 kilos of chicken and beef per week to only eat 4 kilos. Authorities thought it was due to its age.
On December 5th, Kivú was transferred to a new place, located in La Garita de Alajuela. However, the rescue was not enough because the lion died on February 17th at 10:00 pm due to complications associated with chronic kidney failure.
Authorities at the Ministry of Environment and Energy reported that the lion’s health had deteriorated in the last weeks. It even stopped eating. As consequence, the possibility of carrying out a physician-assisted death was evaluated.
Currently, the lion’s body is at the National University’s Veterinary School, where an necropsy is being conducted to deeply study the causes of death.