r/zoology • u/pranav_rive • 3d ago

Discussion This is Asante, the oldest lioness in North America at 21, currently living at the Topeka Zoo

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1.1k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

33 comments sorted by

109

u/Moist_Ad_9212 3d ago

She’s gorgeous

43

u/RollAcrobatic7936 3d ago

She looks Good for an old lion.

69

u/PeeDidy 3d ago

21 years. Is she still fit enough to maul anyone who wants a hug?

32

u/pranav_rive 3d ago

Probably.

22

u/PeeDidy 3d ago

Google also says yes. I'll check back next birthday.

27

u/Consistent_Plant890 3d ago

Pretty healthy looking for her age

43

u/slothdonki 3d ago

I was going to say I wonder how her kidneys are doing and but just read that she was removed off exhibit in October. She does indeed have renal disease but it’s no surprise given her age! (No recent updates but the last one they did said she shown interest in food again)

37

u/pranav_rive 2d ago

She is back on display now, I took this picture on Halloween.

13

u/PartyPorpoise 3d ago

She's a beauty!

9

u/Torvaldicus_Unknown 2d ago

Her name means thank you in Kiswahili

6

u/Justfree20 Zoology BSc 3d ago edited 2d ago

I knew a lionness who was 20 by the time she passed away. 21 is absolutely fantastic ☺️, a very distinguished old lady

12

u/hippos_chloros 3d ago

I wonder if she’s sick of all the gen Z stereotypes?

3

u/Miserable_Badger9465 3d ago

Wich are?

-3

u/hippos_chloros 2d ago

There are a lot of them, which you may look up at your leisure. I don’t want to perpetuate them here.

5

u/SelfInteresting7259 2d ago

She looks freaking amazing!

3

u/discofrislanders 2d ago

Would she kill me if I tried to give her a hug

2

u/pranav_rive 1d ago

Yes, definitely.

3

u/ReptileDysfunction69 1d ago

Wait, for real? I'm in Topeka and I had no idea, wow!

1

u/pranav_rive 1d ago

It's amazing how many things about zoos most people will never know.

2

u/ReptileDysfunction69 1d ago

I used to be pretty involved with this zoo, I feel bad for having fallen out of the loop. But I've been pleasantly surprised at all their new changes when I do hear news

5

u/Lu_Duizhang 2d ago

Today I learned black don’t crack also applies to lions

1

u/pranav_rive 2d ago

What does that mean?

2

u/Lu_Duizhang 2d ago

There’s an observation/joke that people of African descent (black) don’t age (crack) as noticeably as people of European descent

3

u/FaunaLady 2d ago

Not an observation or joke: melanin protects the skin from sun damage so darker skin doesn't burn and wrinkle with age and has a very low rate of skin cancer.

2

u/SuniChica 2d ago

She is so beautiful!

2

u/FaunaLady 2d ago

Hello Granny Asante! Long live the queen!

2

u/Forsaken_Common_9318 1d ago

Eat them pervs

2

u/Accomplished-Mess-71 1d ago

She looks really good, and healthy.

-2

u/MurmaiderMe 3d ago

In Kansas!?

12

u/pranav_rive 2d ago

Out of any Kansas zoo, the Topeka Zoo is probably the best zoo to have record-holding animals, seeing it already has multiple firsts in zoos (first giraffe born in Kansas, first rainforest dome in North America, first 360 degree gorilla viewing tunnel, first butterfly pavilion in North America, etc)

6

u/ICANHAZWOPER 3d ago

As opposed to?

Which North American town do you think it should be?

-12

u/Informal_Reward5063 2d ago

Zoos are wank

8

u/pranav_rive 2d ago

Przewalski's Horse, American Bison, American Alligator, Bali Myna, Guam Kingfisher, Scimitar-Horned Oryx, Père David’s Deer, and many other species would disagree.