Lion killed the lioness in Zagreb: activists demand resignations

The Croatian animal protection association Animalex published footage it says shows the final moments of the lioness Tajri, who was euthanized after being attacked by the lion Uganda at the Zagreb Zoo.

The released footage shows the lion next to the lioness lying in the enclosure, and in the background voices of people and calls to the lion can be heard. From the video itself it cannot be determined when exactly it was filmed, what happened immediately before the event, or whether it was an attack or other behavior by the animals.

Activists accuse the zoo management

Animalex accuses that Tajri's death is the result of unprofessional and irresponsible conduct by the keepers and other responsible persons, pointing out that the lioness had been introduced into the shared enclosure with the lion only ten days after their pairing, without constant supervision and without an appropriate response to previous attacks that, according to the association, she had endured.

Activists say that at least three visitors witnessed the attack and claim that staff tried to stop the lion—calling to it (!). They are demanding the resignation of the director of the Zagreb Zoo and of the person who made the decision to house the lion and the lioness together.

The Zagreb Zoo previously announced that the animals had been successfully paired on 10 July in an auxiliary enclosure, and from 21 July they had been together in the outdoor part of the enclosure. According to them, the lion and the lioness got along well and there were no signs that an attack might occur.

Director Ivan Cizelj stated that the animals were under constant supervision and that they had lived together for 12 days without incidents. The statement adds that it is not yet known what triggered the attack and that after the incident staff acted according to established protocols; as they say, neither visitors nor personnel were in danger.

Photo: Animalex / Facebook / screenshot