10-year-old lion at Las Vegas Zoo euthanized
Midas, a 10-year-old lion at the Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park on North Rancho Drive, was euthanized on Thursday after becoming severely ill and undergoing exploratory surgery.
The lion was anemic and veterinarians and zookeepers agreed in the decision to euthanize the big cat.
Pat Dingle, the director and a 29-year veteran employee of the zoo, said he is concerned about the circumstances surrounding Midas' death. Zookeepers discovered a half-eaten rubber football in the lion exhibit last week.
The lion exhibit’s fence borders the back lot of a Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada thrift store. Dingle said store employees have a history of tossing unwanted items into the exhibit and dumping waste next to the fence.
Although Dingle said he’s complained many times to store employees, Leslie Carmine, community relations coordinator for Catholic Charities, said it hasn’t gotten back to executive management. Catholic Charities is conducting its own investigation into the matter, including complaint history.
“We don’t know the truth yet,” she said. “That’s part of the investigation... (The lion’s death) is a real unfortunate tragedy.”
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