Kivú, the 18-year-old lion that lives in Simón Bolívar Zoo is recovering, as explained by intitution’s representatives. The animal is considered to be old and on Tuesday it was in the light spot because a photo went viral on social networks. The picture denounced an alleged neglect.
The director of the zoo said the animal was not neglected, though they were concerned about its health, and therefore a multidisciplinary team was taking care of Kivú.
Yesterday morning, Randall Arguedas, zoo veterinarian, declared the animal is eating the 8 kilos of meat that it was used to eat every day.
Kivú has a degenerative knee problem, known as osteoarthritis. It is a consequence of its age. Then the animal has been losing weight, probably because of this condition.
The specialist added that they have taken blood samples from the lion and performed ultrasounds to be sure its health is normal.
Currently the lion is in a palliative treatment for its degenerative disease; as a result, Kivú has been eating better and regaining weight. The zoo’s nutritionist said that an animal in captivity lives up to 24 years if it receives proper cares.
The medical evaluation indicates that osteoarthritis is common in old mammals, as well as weight loss. Moreover, chronic pain can cause loss of appetite. Despite this, Kivú cannot gain too much weight because its knees are very affected.