Sheba

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Revision as of 21:31, 7 December 2007 by Wheresdib (talk | contribs) (update per Marcia Riedmiller, Mammal Curator at Bham Zoo)
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Sheba (born 1987) is a female African lion residing at the Birmingham Zoo. She is currently the oldest lion at the zoo, having survived her companion Maynard, who was euthanized on June 2, 2005. Sheba is currently in an off-exhibit holding area. The zoo currently has two lions on display, Kwanza, a male who went on display on February 15, 2006, and 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

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