23-year-old African lion battling renal disease dies at NC zoo, officials say

ASHEBORO, N.C. — The North Carolina Zoo said a 23-year-old African lion, who had been battling renal disease for several years, has died.

Reilly was the oldest male lion in an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited institution.

“He was so tolerant of his rambunctious offspring and was fiercely devoted to his lady lion, Mekita,” said Zookeeper Beth Malott, who worked with Reilly for eight years. “Reilly was a one-of-a-kind soul, and his morning roars will be greatly missed.”

Reilly had been battling renal disease for several years, but as he got older and his physical state weakened, the animal care team and veterinarians made the decision to euthanize him.

“Renal disease is not uncommon for a cat of Reilly’s advanced age, be it a domestic cat sitting on your chair at home or a lion at the Zoo,” says Director of Animal Health and Chief Veterinarian, Dr. Jb Minter. “We had been extremely fortunate to be able to monitor the advancement of Reilly’s renal disease over the years using operant conditioning to get blood from his tail, but unfortunately, the progression of the renal disease along with his previously diagnosed spinal disease proved to be too much. I will surely miss hearing his roar from across the park.”

Zoo officials said Reilly was born at Lincoln Park Zoo on February 7, 1999, and came to the zoo in Asheboro on March 23, 2001. He fathered a total of nine offspring.

“As the oldest male in AZA zoos, he far exceeded the average lifespan for lions under human care,” said Animal Management Supervisor Jodi Wiley, who worked with Reilly for seven years. “This speaks volumes of the amazing care the keepers have given him over the years.”

According to officials, a lion’s average lifespan in the wild is about 10-15 years, while male lions under human care have a median life expectancy of 17 years.

African lions are listed as “Vulnerable” species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with populations continuing to decrease due to habitat loss and poaching. An estimated 23,000 to 39,000 lions remain in the wild.

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