Happy 10th Birthday Jasiri!
As the closing of the day is upon us, I'm finally getting to this post. I imagined it would have been published first thing this morning, but I got side-tracked. First, I dozed off early last night, and when I woke at 2a, I started searching all my online efforts for photos, and got very emotional about Our Lion Family. While I've Loved them all equally, I was especially overcome with emotion over the loss of Jahari, Jasiri's Papa. Jahari aged very rapidly. He seemingly went from the youthful Lion who enjoyed every enrichment Toy I made, to a Lion with visibly aging facial changes, like I hadn't seen before. It was sad. I finally fell back to sleep in tears after 4a.
Over the past week plus, I tried to get a confirmation on whether the Zoo would do anything for Jasiri's Tenth Birthday. I don't usually leave the house on the weekend, but I would want to be there for that. The last party I saw for him was his fifth. It's been too long, but I'm used to the inconsistent and non-existent celebrations for Our Zoo Friends. So, I decided I can't haul my cookies out there on a whim, I'll celebrate his Birthday with recognition here.
Last weekend I was chatting on messenger with a former long-time Big Cat Keeper, as I had seen an amazing photo of four adult males that currently live in a coalition at Denver Zoo. They are Our Lulu's Brothers. I thought to make the post, in honor of Our Lion Family. I have long wanted more recognition for passed Friends. Lasting Tributes to those we've lost, especially long-timers. That said, I still don't see a Memory Wall for Our Chimpanzees, some who lived at the Zoo fifty+ years. What I did see last weekend was a photo of a beautiful mural a fan of the San Diego Zoo painted for three of their lost Friends. I imagined what that would look like on Our Lion House for Our Lions. Not only should they never be forgotten, there's a very real chance if the Zoo is successful in acquiring Pandas, we could lose Jasiri and Lulu.
In pulling photos, I came across an old post I had already done of Our Lion History. Already emotional, reading that didn't help. So, I decided to do a shorter version this time. For those who have been around the past couple decades, I hope you enjoy a bit of reminiscing, for others, I hope you enjoy learning about this Family, who has had a piece of my heart from the start. As the Tree trickles down to Jasiri, I'll post photos of him through the years, leading up to this milestone Birthday today.
The Family Tree starts with what I call Our Starter Lions.
In 1997, Our Zoo received three pure bred African Lion Cubs from a breeding facility in South Africa. Until this time, it was reported the majority of captive Lions were of African and Asiatic breed. At the time of the Cubs arrival, the Zoo was also home to long-timers Topol and Sandy.
Female Amanzi and male Tunya, arrived first, with female Kita joining them soon after.
I clearly remember their arrival, and spent much time visiting them. So many wonderful memories from an experience I was lucky to have, and hold dear to me. I also remember vividly, in 2003, when Lion Cubs were born. I was there when Kita and Tunya's babies Kimani and Jahari first went outside on view. I also remember the extreme feelings of sadness and admittedly anger, that their Mama had passed away shortly after their birth. I unfortunately missed alot of their very early life, because of those feelings.
I would visit the Zoo regularly throughout the years, but it was in 2008, after suffering a loss, that I came to know Our Lions as individuals. I learned "Leo", as I called him, was actually Tunya, and about his sad love life, something else I didn't want to relive while writing this post. In the beginning, Tunya lived with Kimani, and Amanzi lived with Jahari. At the end of 2009, the Zoo swapped females, and Kimani went to live at Tautphaus Park, and their female Sukari came to live here. Sad to see Kimani leave, but Tunya was getting a girlfriend and that was a beautiful thing!
When Tunya passed away in 2012, Sukari moved in with Jahari and Amanzi. It was bittersweet, but nice to see her in a new family unit and not alone. Additionally, seeing her and Amanzi together was special. I had done Sukari's Family Tree upon her arrival, and learned she and Amanzi had the same Mama. Something the Zoo wasn't even aware of. These two sisters, were not only sister wives, but blood related.
On August 30, 2015, Sukari gave birth to Jahari's Son, Tunya and Kita's Grandson, and Amanzi and Kimani's Nephew. He was named Jasiri, meaning brave or courageous in Swahili.
Jasiri made his public debut at two months old. The first time I saw him, he waved!
The following are photos through his first ten years.
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