Longleat lioness death is announced
Safari park says pride queen Jasira was just about to celebrate her 21st birthday
The matriarch of one of Longleat's prides of lions has died just months before reaching her 21st birthday, according to her keepers.
Jasira, a lioness who led Klaus and Simba’s pride at the Wiltshire estate, died this week following a brief illness.
She was recognised as one of the oldest lions in the UK under human care after her half-sister, Malaika, passed away last year.
According to Longleat's Carnivore Team Manager Amy Waller, Jasira’s age is a testament to the quality of care she received at the estate.
"Several of our lions have or are reaching this grand age, and whilst it is always sad when we lose an animal, particularly a stalwart like Jasira, we are very proud that she lived as long as she did," Waller said.
In the wild, lions typically live to around 12 to 14 years old.
Longleat, which is celebrating the 60th anniversary of bringing the first Drive-Through Safari Park outside Africa to life, recently announced the introduction of a new pride with the arrival of two female southern lions.