Xóchitl, one of the African lionesses that lived in the zoo of San Juan de Aragón, died on May 15, 2020, according to information from the Ministry of the Environment (Sedema) of Mexico City and the General Directorate of Zoos and Wildlife Conservation.
The lioness has been part of the zoo since her birth on June 15, 2015. At the time of her death, she was 14 years old, nine months old, and she did it surrounded by a family made up of five other females and a male, all of the same species.
Through a statement, Sedema reported that Xóchitl received all the attention or care that he required throughout his life from their caregivers, biologists, as well as veterinary doctors, who ensured their health and well-being.
Even before his death, they specified "had shown no signs of illness, but a few weeks ago it was noticed that he lost weight, so he underwent a clinical examination. "
Since his death, wildlife pathologists have carried out the corresponding diagnostic studies in the laboratories of the General Directorate of Zoos and Wildlife Conservation, and managed to diagnose that Xóchitl's death was due to monocytic leukemia, which developed acutely.
It was on March 26, 2020 when Xóchitl lost his life. From then on, pathologists specialized in wildlife carried out the corresponding diagnostic studies in the laboratories of the General Directorate of Zoos and Wildlife Conservation. The final diagnosis was that Xóchitl died from a monocytic leukemia that developed acutely.
Veterinary doctors at the Zoo explained that the bone marrow is the tissue that produces blood cells and, in the case of leukemia, produces abnormal white blood cells that multiply at high speed, which prevents red blood cells, platelets and cells healthy occur, leaving the body without its defenses to fight other diseases and infections.
They added that:
In wild cats, leukemias are scarcely reported in the scientific literature, however, this pathology is very similar to that of humans and domestic cats.
Finally, the General Directorate of Zoos and Wildlife Conservation clarified that the death of the African lioness was in no way related to the pandemic that our country lives because of the disease COVID-19, caused by an infection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
"Xóchitl will be remembered as one of the wildlife ambassadors that for many years allowed the girls, boys and adults, who visited the Zoo of San Juan de Aragón, to know more about the environment that we share with them ”, they pointed out.
In the face of the pandemic coronavirus, in all the institutions of the Association of Zoos, Hatcheries and Aquariums of Mexico (Azcarm) is reinforced measures to protect staff healthas well as more than 170 thousand species of wildlife who live under his care.
The association informed through a statement that the wildlife populations that are under their care in their zoological and aquarium institutions are in excellent health and none have so far presented any suspicious symptoms.
Unfortunately, Azcarm noted that Social distancing measures make it difficult to provide the tons of food that the animals consume daily and to maintain the personnel dedicated to their care.. Besides, the absence of monetary income o Government support to do so is a constant challenge, however, the association reaffirmed its commitment to continue guaranteeing its well-being.
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