Safe Haven Rescue Zoo
September 9, 2014
We are very saddened by the loss of our beloved African lion Kovu Over the past eight months, Kovu had exhibited weakness in his back legs and was less active. He had difficulty jumping up on his platform and into his lockout. His legs would buckle and then he would gain control of them, but his condition continued to worsen.
Dr. Lesli Hewitt, Safe Haven’s facility veterinarian, sedated and examined Kovu, took Xrays of his spine and back legs and ran blood work. His spine... showed significant degeneration and unfortunately, our only option was to put him on Prednisone. The Prednisone had worked for several months but whenever we tried to reduce his dosage with the hope of weaning him off, he would again, lose control of his back legs and he would have to go back to his higher dose for him to have any quality of life. Long-term use of Prednisone has many negative effects including liver and kidney damage.
Dr. Lesli Hewitt, Safe Haven’s facility veterinarian, sedated and examined Kovu, took Xrays of his spine and back legs and ran blood work. His spine... showed significant degeneration and unfortunately, our only option was to put him on Prednisone. The Prednisone had worked for several months but whenever we tried to reduce his dosage with the hope of weaning him off, he would again, lose control of his back legs and he would have to go back to his higher dose for him to have any quality of life. Long-term use of Prednisone has many negative effects including liver and kidney damage.
He stopped eating over the weekend and became listless to the point where he was no longer moving about his enclosure. We felt the most humane option was euthanasia. He was sedated and passed peacefully.
An unfortunate aspect of rescuing exotics is that many come in with previous health issues. Kovu had arrived at Safe Haven in 2010 with signs of ataxia (shaky, wobbling gait) in his front legs that was believed to have been caused from an inappropriate diet as a juvenile.
My favorite memories of Kovu will be his sprinting after Ifaw to tackle him and start grooming him. Sadly, he had stopped doing that for some time now. This is a terrible loss for us and he will be very much missed at Safe Haven.
We will keep our doors open in the event another lion needs a new home and hopefully Ifaw will someday have a new friend.
An unfortunate aspect of rescuing exotics is that many come in with previous health issues. Kovu had arrived at Safe Haven in 2010 with signs of ataxia (shaky, wobbling gait) in his front legs that was believed to have been caused from an inappropriate diet as a juvenile.
My favorite memories of Kovu will be his sprinting after Ifaw to tackle him and start grooming him. Sadly, he had stopped doing that for some time now. This is a terrible loss for us and he will be very much missed at Safe Haven.
We will keep our doors open in the event another lion needs a new home and hopefully Ifaw will someday have a new friend.
Right now I am feeling very sad that another beautiful WAO animal has passed away.
WAO believed Kovu was born on or about July 14, 2000 and relocated to the WAO on December 4, 2001 along with 22 tigers and lions from the so-called Gate Keepers Animal Sanctuary formerly run by Ken Alvarez near Rapid City, South Dakota. Kovu was such a handsome young cub when I first saw him so many years ago. He spent the majority of his years at the WAO and yes, I agree that he received a horrible diet during his juvenile development years, to include most of his adult life.
An animal sanctuary, yep you read that right, an animal sanctuary was directly responsible for Kovu's poor health care and not a private animal owner. Now you know why animal sanctuaries should be under the same, if not greater, scrutiny as private animal owners. Too many animals died a horrible death at the WAO and no one, I repeat no one, in the government did a darn thing to help save those animals.
I don't think I will ever overcome the sadness I feel when of I think of animals, such as Kovu, who should have lived a long and happy life, had his life cut short because of the poor care he received from an exotic animal sanctuary.
Poor IFAW...he will miss his brother very, very much. He must be so lonely now--he is all alone.
Poor IFAW...he will miss his brother very, very much. He must be so lonely now--he is all alone.
God Bless you Kovu...may the Lord walk with you in Heaven forever and ever...Amen.
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| Kovu - August 5, 2014 |
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| Kovu - April 10, 2014 |
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