Sister lions, Thheiba and Fidda, euthanized after spending 22 years together at Belfast Zoo

Lions may be the king of the jungle, but lionesses are the backbone of the pride. Belfast Zoo made a sad announcement on March 6, revealing that two of their Barbary lionesses, Thheiba and Fidda, have peacefully passed away. In the statement, they wrote, "Both were 22 years old — much older than the average life expectancy for lions, either in the wild or in captivity." Through the two sisters, the zoo was able to conserve the Barbary subspecies, even though it is extinct in the wild.

The statement continued, "the sisters received exceptional care and became key contributors to conservation as part of the EAZA Ex-Situ Programme (EEP), producing multiple offspring and helping secure the future of Barbary lions." Both lionesses were euthanized after recommendations from the veterinarian. Thheiba was the first to pass after her health declined due to "mobility issues and weight loss." Because lions are social animals that depend on their bond with their pride, the decision to euthanize Fidda was also made "to avoid significant stress and welfare challenges if left alone."

The Belfast Zoo (@belfastzoo) also shared the announcement on its official Instagram account, giving its followers a brief insight into the kind of life the two sisters had at the zoo. They wrote in the caption, "The sisters shared a lifelong bond and only ever separated briefly for veterinary care or husbandry. Staff gave them exceptional care throughout their lives and through their final days, ensuring their comfort and well-being."

The Belfast Zoo has a long history with lions. The first Barbary lions arrived at the zoo in the 1960s, more than six decades ago. The zoo has taken care of different types of animals, ranging from meerkats to flamingos, giant African land snails to giraffes. The statement ended with a note that both Thheiba and Fidda will "be fondly remembered by the staff who cared for them and the thousands of visitors who loved them."

As mentioned, lionesses are the backbone of a pride. The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance shared an interesting fact that lions do not hunt as often as lionesses do. In fact, "they hunt less than 10% of the time." In comparison to lions, they have better speed and agility. In terms of numbers, lions are declared as a "Vulnerable" species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature since 1996. The population of lions has gone down 43% in just over two decades. The saddest part is that they are regionally extinct in 15 African countries. 

People all around the world have left condolence messages on Belfast Zoo's Instagram post. A few lucky people who had the chance to meet Thheiba and Fidda also shared their experiences. @kayleighandbrooks17 shared, "I’m so sorry I have fond memories with these lions." @tracyxtlc also wrote, "Run free beautiful girls. Love to their keepers up there you all must be heartbroken." @alicia_tnb wrote, "Awk poor ladies, at least they were close with each other till their final day."

You can follow Belfast Zoo (@belfastzoo) for more animal and wildlife content.

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