Medical checks on the FELIDA lions, Elza and Mero
Both lions are in good health.
The big cats we rescue at our sanctuary receive specialised care. Part of this specialised care is that each animal has a unique treatment and care plan. This treatment plan is tailored entirely to the specific needs of each animal.
Medical check-ups
To ensure these treatment plans are properly tailored to each animal, it is important that we know their state of health. Medical check-ups are therefore a key part of the care we provide at FELIDA. Recently, the young lion Mero and the lioness Elza underwent medical check-ups carried out by our own FELIDA vet and the specialist wildlife vet from Cenzoo.
Lion Mero
Last summer, Mero arrived at FELIDA as a cub. As Mero is still growing rapidly and had a difficult start in life, it is important to keep a close eye on his overall health. This allows us to check whether he is developing as a young lion should.
Mero was taken away from his mother at far too young and was kept as a ‘pet’ by a private individual in the Czechia. It became clear that this person was keeping Mero illegally as a private pet and did not have the correct paperwork. As a result, Mero was seized and eventually transferred to FELIDA.
The good news is that the young lion is in good health and is developing normally. You can clearly see that, as Mero has grown quite a bit by now and already has a thick mane!
As lions are social animals and ideally live with a mate, we took the opportunity straight away to neuter Mero. Although there are currently no plans to introduce him to a lioness, it is important to ensure that he cannot produce offspring in the future.
In all our sanctuaries worldwide, we adhere to a strict anti-breeding policy. We do not want any more big cats to have to spend their lives in captivity. They belong in the wild. Mero’s neutering went well and he is being given plenty of time to recover. The animal caretakers at FELIDA report that he is already up to his old tricks again.
Lion fact
Did you know that when a male lion is castrated, he loses his mane? A lion’s mane grows as a result of certain hormones. When a lion is castrated, these hormones are no longer produced, causing the mane to disappear. That is why male lions in our sanctuaries are always neutered – a procedure known as ‘tying the knot’. This way, they continue to produce these hormones and retain their manes, but are no longer able to reproduce.
Lioness Elza
Elza the lioness also underwent a medical check-up. The eleven-year-old lioness has been living at FELIDA for almost five years and has undergone a remarkable transformation – from being severely traumatised to becoming a confident lioness. As Elza’s last comprehensive medical check-up was around three years ago, she has been examined again. This allows us to adjust her treatment plan in line with the latest findings, if necessary.
Fortunately, the results brought good news for Elza too. The tests showed that her kidney function has deteriorated slightly, but this is not a cause for concern at the moment. Like Mero, she is in good condition and no major health problems have been detected. After everything she has been through, it is wonderful to see that she is now healthy and confident. It demonstrates the tremendous resilience of this admirable lioness.
