A longtime Naples Zoo resident has died.
“With heavy hearts, Naples Zoo announces the passing of our beloved African lioness, Shani,” the Zoo said March 4 in a news release.
“Following a period of decline related to her advanced age, the Zoo’s animal care and veterinary teams made the difficult but compassionate decision to humanely euthanize her. At 20 years old, Shani far exceeded the typical 10-to-15-year lifespan of a lioness in the wild.
“Under the constant and dedicated supervision of her keepers, Shani had been receiving specialized geriatric care to manage her health.”
How long was Shani at Naples Zoo
Shani arrived at Naples Zoo in 2013 from Ohio after being genetically matched through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan with our male lion, Masamba, who died in 2025 at age 16. The pair became the founders of the Zoo’s pride, famously welcoming three cubs in 2019.
“Shani was a devoted mother and a powerful ambassador for African lions,” the news release said.
“Naples Zoo will sound different without her daily territorial calls, however Shani’s legacy will continue through her three sons, currently residing at the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, Florida, and through the Zoo’s ongoing efforts to support lion conservation in the wild.”
Naples Zoo is now lion-less
The Zoo announced in January 2025 that Masamba died. And like Shani, Masamba was humanely euthanized following several age-related health concerns.
Masamba was 16 years old, with the average life expectancy of a male lion in the wild being 10-12 years. He came to Naples Zoo in 2009 and in 2013 was paired with Shani. In 2019, this pair welcomed three cubs to the family.
Shani was the last lion left at the Zoo.
The three cubs left Naples Zoo for Melbourne, Florida, in 2022 as part of the Species Survival Plan, a cooperatively managed breeding program that works to create sustainable populations of threatened and endangered species within zoos across the country.
The trio ― Karoo (Ka-roo), Ruaha (Ru-ah-ha), and Chobe (Cho-bee) — in 2019 were the first lion cubs to be born at Naples Zoo in more than 30 years.
And Zoo officials in August 2022 announced the unexpected death of Timber the giraffe. At age 13, Timber was the oldest giraffe in the zoo’s herd. Timber was a reticulated giraffe, also known as a Somali giraffe, a subspecies or species of giraffe native to the Horn of Africa and lives in Somalia, southern Ethiopia, and northern Kenya.
‘Fiercely beautiful presence’
Jack Mulvena, Naples Zoo, president and CEO, addressed no more lions at the Zoo, for now.
“At this time, we are actively fundraising to design and build a new lion exhibit that will help facilitate our efforts to showcase and breed this amazing and beautiful animal,” he said in an email.
He also said it wasn’t an easy decision to say goodbye to Shani but was necessary.
“Our commitment to animal welfare remains our guiding principle at every stage of an animal’s life,” he said in the news release.
“While saying goodbye is heartbreaking, this decision was made out of respect for Shani’s quality of life. She was a fiercely beautiful presence at the Zoo and will be deeply missed by our staff, volunteers, and the community of guests who grew to love her.”
Dave Osborn is the regional features editor of the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. Contact him at dosborn@usatodayco.com and follow him on Instagram @lacrossewriter.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: ‘Heavy hearts’: Why beloved Naples Zoo animal died
Reporting by Dave Osborn, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
