Oldest lioness at Oaklawn Farm Zoo passes away

By John Decoste
Published on December 26, 2014

Esther, the oldest African lioness at Oaklawn Farm Zoo and the last survivor of the zoo's original pride of nine lions, four males and five females, passed away Dec. 5 at the age of 20. Esther's constant companion was a large stuffed dog, which according to zoo co-founder Gail Rogerson, was buried with her. Oaklawn Farm Zoo

Esther, aged 20, "was the last survivor of our original pride," says Rogerson MILLVILLE - Staff at Oaklawn Farm Zoo in Millville near Aylesford are mourning the loss of Esther, the zoo’s oldest African lioness who passed away in early December.

Oaklawn Farm Zoo co-founder Gail Rogerson confirmed Dec. 26 that Esther had passed away Dec. 5 from kidney failure at the age of 20.

Rogerson confirmed Esther was the last survivor of the zoo’s original pride of nine lions. “She was born April 3, 1994, and was almost 21” at the time of her death.

Asked if 20 was an advanced age for a lion in captivity, Rogerson pointed out it was “really old for a big cat. We’ve had a couple reach 21, but generally, big cats in captivity have a similar lifespan to domesticated cats.”

Esther, Rogerson said, was “the youngest of our original pride of nine lions that used to live in our big compound,” and was also the last survivor. “Originally, we had nine – four males and five females.”

Asked if Esther had been the mother of any other lions in the zoo’s collection, Rogerson said Esther “had one litter of four kittens, all male, born in 1996.”

One of the cubs passed away, but the other three survived, “and were all given to a zoo in Ontario.”
She added, “because we had to do a C-section with her, we spayed her at that time,” so those were her only offspring.

Rogerson has fond memories of Esther. “Because she was born in the spring, in April, we put her on display that summer. She got really used to being with people.”

Esther, she said, “was brought up in the house, and was bottle-fed, along with two foxes and a beaver.” That upbringing had a real impact on her interaction with other animals. In particular, “she always loved foxes.”

She pointed out, “young creatures usually get along well with other young creatures,” regardless of the species. “It’s not until they get older that you start having differences.”

Esther, she said, “had a big stuffed dog someone had picked up on the side of the road during the spring clean-up, and donated to us. We gave it to Esther. She had it in her cage with her. She just loved it.”

Esther was buried “at the base of the lion hill, along with her stuffed dog. I was her best friend,” Rogerson said, “and I’ll miss her.”

Esther’s death leaves three lions at the zoo – “Nyah, who just turned two; Obi, aged  one; and Sterk, aged two – our new young pride.”

Some photos of Esther, plus a tribute, can be viewed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/OaklawnFarmZoo.

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