Today, we share the difficult news of the passing of a beloved member of the Greater Vancouver Zoo family.
After careful and compassionate deliberation, and in consultation with our veterinary and Animal Health and Welfare teams, we made the decision to humanely euthanize Boomer, our 18-year-old African lion, following a recent and rapid decline in his quality of life the past few days due to end-stage renal disease. Boomer had been receiving ongoing treatment for this condition since 2025.
Boomer’s life story was remarkable. Found as a young cub wandering near a highway in Quebec, he was first taken to Granby Zoo before finding his home at the Greater Vancouver Zoo, where he spent the majority of his life. When he arrived at the age of 3, he was a sub-adult, just beginning to develop his mane. Over the years, Boomer grew into one of the Zoo’s most iconic animal ambassadors, helping to raise awareness for his species and the challenges facing African lions in the wild. He became known for his calm, dignified presence, forming a lasting connection with guests, members, and staff alike.
At 18 years old, Boomer was the most senior lion in our care. In this advanced stage of life, he experienced age-related health challenges that increasingly impacted his quality of life, including chronic kidney disease, a progressive condition commonly seen in older felids.
Over the past year, our animal care and veterinary teams supported Boomer through a comprehensive and proactive care plan. This included specialized nutrition, daily monitoring, medications to support kidney function and comfort, and regular veterinary assessments. As his condition progressed, our approach transitioned from active treatment to palliative, welfare-centered care, with a focus on maintaining his comfort, dignity, and ability to engage in natural behaviours.
Throughout this time, he continued to receive enrichment, individualized care, and the familiar routines that helped him remain comfortable and engaged for as long as possible. Boomer received structured quality-of-life assessments and increased monitoring to ensure that every decision remained guided by Boomer’s well-being.
In recent weeks, Boomer’s condition declined significantly. He experienced a sustained loss of appetite, increasing discomfort, and a rapid decline in his quality of life. When it became clear that medical interventions were no longer effective in maintaining his comfort and dignity, our team made the difficult but compassionate decision to allow him to pass peacefully.
Boomer lived a long life shaped by care, stability, and connection. He will be deeply missed by the dedicated team who cared for him each day, and by the many visitors who felt a connection to him over the years.
Thank you for keeping Boomer in your thoughts.
Any further inquiries, please reach out to: khaider@gvzoo.com
