Franklin Park Zoo Lion Dinari To Have Medical Procedure To Help His Brother Kamaia

BOSTON — You could say it’s an example of one brother helping another.

Dinari, a 14-year-old male lion at the Franklin Park Zoo, will undergo a medical procedure Thursday in hopes of helping his brother, Kamaia, who has serious health problems, zoo officials said.

The zoo’s veterinary team will draw blood from Dinari to determine if it is a match with Kamaia, who has severe anemia, so they can give a blood transfusion, zoo officials said.

“While there is always a risk whenever anesthesia is administered, Dinari is in good health and the team believes his risk is minimal for this short procedure, which could give his brother the best chances of survival,” zoo officials said in a statement Wednesday. .

Brotherly love: Dinari, the lion at Franklin Park Zoo, will have a medical procedure to help his brother, Kamaia Dinari, a 14-year-old male lion at the Franklin Park Zoo, will undergo a medical procedure Thursday in hopes of helping his brother, Kamaia, who has serious health problems, zoo officials said. (Franklin Park Zoo)

On Friday, the veterinary team plans to perform exploratory surgery on Kamaia, also 14, to try to determine the cause of her ongoing health problems, officials said. If he is a match with his brother Dinari, he will also receive a blood transfusion.

“We remain very concerned about Kamaia and her ongoing serious health issues. These procedures are approached with great thought and consideration, and while there is risk and many unknowns about what we might find, this is the best course of action to try to treat Kamaia,” said Dr. Chris Bonar, the Zoo’s director of animal health. new england

Last week, Kamaia underwent a medical examination to try to determine the cause of underlying health problems after he showed signs of illness, including a decreased appetite and lethargy.

Franklin Park Zoo’s beloved lion is experiencing “serious health issues,” officials say (Eric Kilby)

Although Kamaia was successfully treated for severe pneumonia earlier this spring, it appeared at the time that he also had some chronic underlying health issues. Extensive diagnostic tests were inconclusive at the time, zoo officials said.

Last week’s exam included the collection of blood, urine, spleen and bone marrow samples, as well as X-rays of Kamaia’s chest and abdomen, zoo officials said. Examination reveals that Kamaia’s spleen is greatly enlarged, which may have caused her anemia. However, it is still unclear if he has other health problems.

“Dinari and Kamaia were born in the same litter and are an incredibly close and close couple. These decisions are being carefully considered with their best interests in mind,” said Zoo New England President and CEO John Linehan. “The veterinary and Animal Care teams have been working extraordinarily well to care for Kamaia, and I would like to commend them for their dedication, care and professionalism during this difficult time.”

Dinari and Kamaia have resided at Franklin Park Zoo since 2015. The zoo said it will provide updates after the procedure on Friday.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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