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Lion dies at Gwalior Zoo

          Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh): An ailing lion, 22 years old, died at the Gandhi Zoological Park in Gwalior on Sunday. Bhura fell ill two years ago due to old age. Zoo veterinarians said Bhura outlived most lions, as their normal life span was 17-18 years in captivity. "This lion was the eldest of all animals at the zoo, and normally, a lion survives till the age of 17-18 years. This lion was 22 years old," said S.K. Mittal, a veterinarian. The lion was cremated to ensure that its parts were not traded. The lion, a highly endangered species, has in the past been hunted for its skin, bones, teeth and nails. Asiatic lions are found only in India and at present, there are about 300 of them in the Gir National Park in Gujarat . In the mid-20th century, their numbers were less than fifteen.
-April 23,  2007