Kansas City Zoo mourns death of lion, chimpanzee after health battles
The Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium is mourning the loss of two animals — a lion and chimpanzee —that recently died, the zoo said on social media.
A 20-year-old male lion named Shakarri had been treated for age-related health issues, but recently stopped responding to medical treatment, the zoo said in a Facebook post. The zoo said it made the decision to euthanize Shakarri since his quality of life was diminishing.
“...His long life is a testament to the excellent care provided by our animal care and veterinary health teams,” the post said.
Shakarri was one of four cubs born at the Kansas City Zoo and Aquairum in 2005. As a cub, he would let his brothers take the lead but he became braver as he aged, the zoo said. Shakarri gave his care team a challenge in training sessions during his younger years and eventually warmed up to medical exams.
The zoo said Shakarri loved canned goat’s milk and playing with a plastic tube in his habitat. He is survived by his 20-year-old sister Zuri.
Chimpanzee passes away at KC zoo
Earlier this month, the zoo also lost a 29-year-old female Chimpanzee named Teeoni. She had been receiving treatment for heart disease for more than a year, but her health decreased significantly in her final days, the zoo said.
Two masses were found in her organs during treatment, the zoo said.
“The difficult decision was made to euthanize when it became apparent that no additional treatment would restore her quality of life,” the zoo said on Facebook.
Teeoni arrived at the Kansas City Zoo in 2003 with her twin sister, Teetoo and her mother, Rachel. Both Teeoni and Teetoo had similar heart conditions, leading their caretakers to believe they had a family predisposition to the disease, the zoo said.
Teeoni gave birth to Ruw in 2016 and developed strong bonds with other family members. Teeoni was extremely intelligent and was a standout for enrichment activities like fishing with a stick, the zoo said. She trusted her animal care team and would remind them to do activities by knocking on things.
Teeoni was also known for her love of socks, the zoo said. She often wore one on her hand, the brighter and fuzzier the sock, the better, the zoo said on Facebook.
“These iconic Zoo residents were incredible ambassadors for their respective species,” the zoo said on Facebook. “Shakarri and Teeoni will both be dearly missed.”
This story was originally published August 21, 2025 at 11:25 AM.
