Longleat Safari Park is mourning the loss of Jasira, the majestic queen of her pride, who passed away this week following a brief illness. Just shy of her 21st birthday, Jasira was among the oldest lions in human care in the UK, a testament to the exceptional care she received throughout her life.
As the proud matriarch of Klaus and Simba’s pride, Jasira’s death has deeply saddened both her keepers and visitors. Her passing comes less than a year after her half-sister, Malaika of Harry’s pride, also passed away, marking a poignant loss for the park.
Carnivore Team Manager Amy Waller reflected on Jasira’s remarkable longevity: “While it’s always difficult to lose an animal, especially one as influential as Jasira, we are incredibly proud she reached such an advanced age. In the wild, lions typically live 12 to 14 years, so her life here greatly exceeded that.”
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Fans of Longleat shared heartfelt tributes on social media, many recalling Jasira and Malaika’s appearances as cubs on the safari park’s popular TV show, Animal Park. One visitor remarked, “Seeing Jasira and Malaika on the show many years ago and then witnessing their long lives shows how dedicated Longleat is to animal care.”
Another wrote, “Such sad news. Beautiful lion. Thinking of the staff who cared for her. Rest in peace, Jasira.”
Yet another fan commented, “It’s heartbreaking but also inspiring how well these lions were cared for to live such long lives.”
Looking ahead, Longleat recently announced the creation of a new pride with two female southern lions. The public will soon have the opportunity to vote on their names, with the results expected later this month.