PITTSBURGH (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) - The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium announced Wednesday morning that their 10-year-old African lion, Razi has died.
In a release the zoo said, "Razi, who suffered from idiopathic epilepsy for the past six and a half years, suffered a grand mal seizure on Sunday, fell in his exhibit, and fractured his jaw. Both veterinary and keeper staff determined that it was not in Razi's best interest to attempt the difficult surgery needed, as aftercare would be extremely difficult in a 500 lb carnivore, in addition to maintaining a good quality of life given his increased seizure rate. "
"It is a sad day for all of us," says Dr. Barbara Baker, President & CEO of the Pittsburgh Zoo. "Our animals are like members of our family and losing a family member is tough. Razi was a magnificent animal, and will also be missed by our visitors who developed a bond with him and his brother Ajani."
Razi was first diagnosed with Idiopathic epilepsy in 2013, it is a very rare condition in lions.
"Razi was an amazing cat. He allowed us to get voluntary blood samples from his tail every couple of months to check his medication serum levels and his liver function. It's so hard for all of us at the zoo to lose an animal we have cared so deeply for but we try to remember all of the good memories and positive impact that he had on our zoo visitors" says Dr. Sturgeon.
Keepers are watching Razi's brother Ajani very carefully during this because the brothers have "been inseparable over the years."
Only 20,000 African lions are left in the wild and are considered a vulnerable species.
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