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Lioness Dies at Columbus Zoo after Enclosure Breach

Incident Date:
04/17/2025
Location:
Dayton, OH - USA
Facility Name:
Columbus Zoo
Facility Type:
Accredited AZA Facility (AZA)
Incident Category:
Animal Death (AD)
Species:
Big Cats
Animal:
Lion
Animal disposition:
Dead

Summary:

DAYTON, OH – A lioness died at the Columbus Zoo on Thursday, April 17. The USDA released a report on her death.

According to a report from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), officials believe a lion broke through the panel separating the enclosures at night. In the morning, the lioness, Asali, was found with a deadly bite wound. Roary, another lion, had minor wounds. The other two lionesses were fine.

Officials said Roary and Asali were kept in separate enclosures at nighttime because they didn’t get along. Asali had to be euthanized due to her injury. Per the report, the zoo said it believes the pair had gotten into an ‘altercation’. The zoo has apparently made improvements since the incident to prevent something similar from happening again.

Action take by Born Free USA:

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