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The Sacramento Zoo is mourning the loss of one of our most charismatic and iconic animals, an African lion named Kamau. At nearly 17-years-old, Kamau was considered elderly. His longevity here at the Zoo is a testament to the care he received from his dedicated animal care professionals and veterinary team including specialists from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.
Our staff did everything possible to make Kamau comfortable and gave him the best quality of life in his golden years. Over the last few weeks, Kamau had developed worsening gastrointestinal problems with decreased interest in food, and the difficult decision to proceed with humane euthanasia was made when medical treatment options failed to provide sufficient relief from his condition.
Kamau came to Sacramento Zoo from the San Diego Zoo in 2008. For the 14 years that he called the Zoo home, visitors (and many Land Park neighbors) enjoyed his impressive roar. He would draw crowds from every corner of the Zoo. In 2014, Kamau sired a litter of cubs and in 2019, his habitat doubled in size and a glass viewing wall allowed our guests to get “nose-to-nose” with both Kamau and his mate, Cleo.
Cleo, our nearly 18-year-old lioness is doing well. Our carnivore care team will be monitoring Cleo closely to ensure her wellbeing. She enjoys her regular training sessions and one-on-one time with her care team.
Kamau was adored by many over the years, and we appreciate the love and support of our Zoo family.
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