Zoo Heidelberg Euthanizes Germany’s Oldest Lion, Chalid, at 20

Overview

• The zoo reported that Chalid had rapidly lost weight, withdrawn from activity, and stopped eating in recent weeks.
• He was identified by Zoo Heidelberg as the oldest living lion in a German zoo at the time of his death.
• Born in England in 2005, he moved to Hannover in 2010 and to Heidelberg in 2016, where he occupied a new lion enclosure from 2019.
• With his 17-year-old partner Binta, he sired eight cubs and became a grand-, great‑grand- and great‑great‑grandfather.
• Binta and their son Nouri will remain at Zoo Heidelberg for now, with a decision on Nouri’s potential breeding role to come later.