Loss of Mana at Paradise Wildlife Park

I found out this evening through Paradise Wildlife Park's facebook page that Mana has died today. 

Mana was born at the park on the 1st July 1996 to lions Jade and Blanco, and lived with her twin brother Turkana for her entire life. Below are one of my first photos of the pair, and they were rather specially the first lions that I ever saw, so for me this is the beginning of an end.

The pair lived very happily together, and were handreared by keeper Nick Loudon. Nick who I have met a couple of times thought a lot of these two lions, and to no surprise to me stayed with Mana til the very end to comfort her. It is a very sad situation for the entire park and their keepers, but majorly for Turkana. The loss of a life long companion in animals is a terrible thing to happen, and quite often their health will go down rapidly afterwards. However I wish Turkana the best of luck, and I am going to make it a priority to visit him soon.

My thoughts are with all keepers and Turkana, below is the last photo that I have of her. Fifteen is a reasonable age for a lioness, but many have been recorded older than that, but I do not know how her health was recently.

I was hoping not to right a post like this for some time, but sadly it has to be done. Her and Turkana made a fantastic pair, and looked superb together. Paradise certainly wont be the same without her.

Below are some links to pictures from visits.

• Summer 2006
• February 2008
• February 2011

Rest in peace Mana.