Belfast Zoo fares goodbye to world's rarest lions

Two of the world’s rarest lions have died at a zoo in Northern Ireland.

Belfast Zoo announced it is mourning the loss of its last two Barbary lion lionesses, saying they will be “fondly remembered” by visitors over the years who “loved them”.

The zoo said it was “sad to share the news” that its two remaining Barbary lionesses, Thheiba and Fidda, had passed away peacefully, as per a statement posted over the weekend shared by Belfast media outlets.

According to the zoo, both animals were 22 years old—significantly older than the typical life expectancy for lions in either the wild or captivity.

“During their lives, the sisters received exceptional care and became key contributors to conservation as part of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria EAZA Ex-situ Programme (EEP), producing multiple offspring and helping secure the future of Barbary lions, a lion subspecies now extinct in the wild,” the zoo said.

The last known wild Barbary lion was shot in Morocco in 1942, leaving the subspecies surviving only in zoos and private collections. It is estimated that around 200 Barbary lions remain worldwide.

The Barbary lion, a striking member of the northern lion subspecies, once roamed widely across its native North Africa, including the Atlas Mountains. These lions are typically larger than other lion populations, and males are recognisable by their thick black mane and long belly hair.

Long regarded as a symbol of strength, the Barbary lion was nearly wiped out by human activity. Many were killed by gladiators during the era of the Roman Empire, while later overhunting and habitat loss pushed the subspecies toward extinction.

The zoo said Thheiba had experienced health problems in recent weeks, including “mobility issues and weight loss”. Following a veterinary assessment, the staff decided to “euthanise her and end her suffering”.

Officials added that the two lions had lived together throughout their lives and “shared a very strong bond”. On veterinary advice, the zoo also euthanised Fidda to “avoid significant stress and welfare challenges” that could arise if the animal were left alone.

Barbary lions first arrived at Belfast Zoo in the 1960s and had since become a longstanding feature of the facility. Until recently, the zoo housed three of the rare animals: a male named Qays and the two females.

By Nazrin Sadigova