Oldest lion in Oregon zoo pride dies

PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) - Kya, the oldest member of the Oregon Zoo’s African lion pride and a longtime favorite among visitors, has died at nearly 19-years-old, zoo officials announced Tuesday.

Just a few months shy of the 19th birthday, Kya was considered geriatric for her species. Female African lions in the wild rarely live beyond 16 years, according to zoo officials, who said the ageing lion had been slowing down in recent years.

Caregivers and vets worked closely to keep Kya comfortable as she aged. The zoo even modified the lion habitat by adding ramps that allowed older cats to continue reaching their favorite spots on the rocky landscape.

“Kya was part of our original pride when Predators of the Serengeti opened, and some of her caregivers knew her for 15 years,” said Kelly Gomez, who oversees the zoo’s Africa area. “She was a beautiful lion, and we will miss her fierce spirit. She touched the hearts of millions of zoo visitors.”

Born at Racine Zoo in Wisconsin in 2007, Kya arrived in Portland in 2009 when the Oregon Zoo opened its Predators of the Serengeti exhibit. Five years later, she gave birth to a litter of cubs.

Two of Kya’s offspring, Mashavu and Niara, remain at the Oregon Zoo. A third cub, Hasani, was transferred to the Houston Zoo through the Species Survival Plan, a cooperative breeding program designed to maintain healthy, genetically diverse populations of African lions at accredited zoos.

Zoo officials said Kya’s impact extended beyond Portland, serving as an ambassador for a species facing significant conservation challenges.

African lions are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and some conservationists warn that wild populations could face extinction within the next 25 years without continued protection efforts.

“Here in Mozambique, people are sharing the landscape with wild lions, and this reminds me every day how important it is to continue to have lions as part of our world and ecosystems,” said Dr. Colleen Begg, director of the Niassa Carnivore Project. “Kya gave millions of people that same sense of wonder and connection, and those moments of inspiration are what ultimately turn people into lifelong protectors of lions.”

Zoo officials said Kya’s legacy will live on through her descendants and through the conservation awareness she inspired among generations of visitors.