In life, twin sisters Tawni and Nauschka were inseparable.
So it was only fitting when the elderly lionesses’ time came that they would go together.
“It was pretty tough,” said Debbi Rowland of Innisfail’s Discovery Wildlife Park, which the two lionesses called home for the past 15 years.
“We were so used to hearing the lions roaring all night. It’s pretty quiet around here now.”
The lionesses were put down last week on the recommendations of a veterinarian, who had examined them and saw signs that the animals’ aged bodies were breaking down.
At almost 21 years old, the twins had already lived full lives. Most zoo lions live between 15 and 20 years.
“We don’t know any other zoo that’s had lionesses to live to 21.”
However, the signs had been there for some time that age was catching up to the queens of the jungle. Their eyesight and hearing were fading and both were being treated for arthritis.
“That was just getting worse.”
But when the veterinarian detected evidence that the big cats’ internal organs were beginning to fail, Rowland knew it was only humane to put them to sleep.
“It was really hard. But it wasn’t on the other hand because we’re glad they don’t have to go through anything anymore. They didn’t suffer, so that was good.”
The lionesses came to Discovery Wildlife Park as five-year-olds from a zoo that was closing in Spokane, Wash. With them came their lifelong mate, a lion named Dusty who died three years ago.
“They grieved for a long time over him. You could hear them at night calling for him. It was pretty hard on them.”
“So we figured if we were going to put one down, we would have to put them both down anyway because the one that would be left would go through a very terrible time being by herself.
“They’d been together every day of their life.”
Rowland said the zoo doesn’t know whether they will replace the lionesses. Word has been sent out to zoos that they have space available. But spring is also when Fish and Wildlife comes across orphans, so they may get a new resident or two that way.
Aging animals come with the territory now that the family-run zoo is celebrating its 22nd year of business.
Some of the animals have been with her and husband Doug Bos from the beginning and are now senior citizens. One of their three tigers is 17 and a bobcat is 15.
“It’s the way of life. What can you do? Everything comes full circle sooner or later.”
Meanwhile, the zoo continues to grow. They now have 15 bears, including a rare white black bear, one of two they are caring for temporarily while a zoo in Winnipeg completes renovations to its bear enclosures. The white black bear is the only one of its kind in captivity.
For information on the zoo, go to www.discoverywildlifepark.com or check out their Facebook page.
pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com