Sheba

Sheba (born 1987) is a female African lion residing at the Birmingham Zoo. She is currently the oldest lion on exhibit, having survived her companion Maynard, who was euthanized on June 2, 2005. She was joined by a male, Kwanza, on February 15, 2006, and by a female, Akili, in August 2007. Birmingham's lions are part of a nationally accredited species survival plan.

Samantha, one of Sheba's predecessors at the Birmingham Zoo, holds the record for lion lifespan in a zoo, having died in 1998 at the age of 25. The average lifespan for lions is 10 years in the wild, 15 in captivity.

Sheba bit keeper Melissa Wright in February 2006 while being transferred between her overnight quarters and daytime exhibit area. Wright was treated at UAB Hospital for bite puncture woulds to the scalp, right arm and abdomen.

References

• Bryant, Walter. (February 23, 2006) "Bite incident prompts review at zoo." Birmingham News.

External link

• Large photo of Sheba at Birminghamzoo.com