🔍 African Lion | Panthera leo 🦁
📍 Seen in Simón Bolivar Zoo, San José, Costa Rica 🇨🇷
💬 Kivú was a lion born in Cuba in 1998, transferred to Costa Rica’s Simón Bolívar Zoo at 6 months old. He spent 18 years in a tiny 66 m² cement cage, developing chronic kidney failure due to poor conditions. After national outcry, the government rescued him in 2016 and moved him to Zoo Ave in Alajuela, where he finally lived in a natural environment. He died on February 17, 2017, and his story became a turning point for animal welfare in Costa Rica, leading to the eventual closure of the Simón Bolívar Zoo.
🐾 Fauna Key Data
African Lion Panthera leo | |
| // Basic ID | |
| Conservation Status | VUVulnerable (IUCN) |
| Coloration | Tawny to golden-yellow coat; males develop a dark brown to black mane with age. |
| Lifespan | 10–14 years in the wild; up to 20 years in captivity. |
| // Size | |
| Length | 1.7–2.5 m (body); tail adds an additional 0.6–1.0 m. |
| Weight | 120–190 kg (females); 150–250 kg (males). |
| // Habitat & Behavior | |
| Native Range | Sub-Saharan Africa; a small isolated population survives in Gir Forest, India. |
| Habitat Type | Savanna grasslands, open woodlands, scrub, and semi-arid plains. |
| Diet | Carnivore; preys primarily on large ungulates such as wildebeest, zebra, and buffalo. |
| Activity Pattern | Mostly nocturnal and crepuscular; rests up to 20 hours per day during daylight. |
Sources: IUCN Red List · Encyclopedia of Life · GBIF · Catalogue of Life