Zawadi Mungu was a lion at the Oregon Zoo in Portland, Oregon, United States.[1][2] He was born at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in 2007 and relocated to Oregon in 2009.[3] He died in 2026, at the age of 18.[4][5] He was among the oldest male lions in North America at the time. Two of his cubs (Niara and Mashavu) remain at the Oregon Zoo.[6] He has other offspring elsewhere.[7]
| Sex | Male |
|---|---|
| Died | Oregon Zoo, Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
He was named Father of the Year by the Oregon Zoo in 2014.[8][9][10] In 2016, his tail was severed by a hydraulic door.[11][12] He weighed approximately 500 lbs. in 2019.[13] Prior to his death, the zoo added ramps to the lion habitat to help with his mobility.[14]
References
edit- ↑ "Male lion shows cubs who is boss in first meeting". telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2017-11-10. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
- ↑ Seibold, Hannah (2026-04-02). "Oregon Zoo lion Zawadi Mungu, among oldest in North America, dies at 18". The Portland Tribune. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
- ↑ "Zoo roars at possibility of lion cubs". The Columbian. 2026-03-13. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
Zawadi, Neka and a third lion, Kya, came to the Oregon Zoo in 2009 based on a breeding recommendation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan for African lions. Zawadi, the male, came from the San Diego Wild Animal Park, and the females, Neka and Kya, came from the Virginia Zoo and Wisconsin's Racine Zoo respectively.
- ↑ Nocera, Veronica (2026-04-02). "Zawadi Mungu, Oregon Zoo's 'elder statesman' lion dies at 18". oregonlive. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
- ↑ "Oregon Zoo's 'elder statesman' lion, Zawadi Mungu, dies at 18". KOIN. Archived from the original on 2026-04-03. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
- ↑ Staff, KATU (2026-04-02). "Oregon Zoo's 'elder statesman' lion, Zawadi Mungu, dies at 18 years old". KATU. Archived from the original on 2026-04-02. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
- ↑ "Oregon Zoo bids farewell to elder African lion". KLCC | NPR for Oregonians. 2026-04-02. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
- ↑ "Oregon Zoo names African lion Father of the Year". Statesman Journal. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
- ↑ "Zoo names grouchy lion Father of the Year". The Portland Tribune. 2014-06-12. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
- ↑ "Oregon Zoo names African lion 'Father of the Year'". KATU. 2014-06-12. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
- ↑ Williams, Kale (2016-06-14). "Watch: Oregon Zoo lion's tail severed in hydraulic door". oregonlive. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
- ↑ "Oregon Zoo lion expected to make full recovery after injuring tail". KATU. 2016-06-14. Archived from the original on 2023-01-08. Retrieved 2026-04-03.
- ↑ "Lion cubs greeted with roars in first meeting with dad". Men's Journal.
- ↑ "Happy birthday, Zawadi! Lion at Oregon Zoo turns 18". KPTV. 2025-11-03. Retrieved 2026-04-03.