Bhubaneswar: An African lion died at the Nandankanan Zoological Park on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar Friday after being ill for few days.
The animal breathed his last at the age of eight while undergoing treatment at the veterinary hospital of the zoo this morning. But, suddenly his condition deteriorated and was administered saline. With this, the number of lions in Nandankanan reduced to 13.
The big cat was brought to the zoo from Israel in the year 2015 with an intention of increasing lion population in Nandankanan.
The authorities concerned have contacted the Centre for Wildlife Health, OUAT, to conduct the postmortem. The cause of death shall be ascertained this evening, they added.
At present, there are six male and seven female lions in the zoo.