Lion’s death leaves ‘huge void’ at animal sanctuary

Staff left heartbroken following passing of ‘absolute star’

Heartbroken staff at an animal sanctuary say there is a “huge void” to be filled following the death of a much-loved lion.

Manzi, who was affectionately dubbed the ‘Big Man’ first came to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden as a two-year-old along with his brothers Tiny and Kafara.

Born at Woburn Safarai Park, Bedfordshire, in 2002, Manzi and his siblings were taken to the sanctuary’s sister park, Paradise Wildlife Park in Hertfordshire at just 19 days old as their mother was unable to care for them.

The “tight-knit trio” were transferred to Smarden in 2005 but as they matured tensions erupted and Manzi was eventually separated from his brothers, although he lived alongside them.

Manzi became head of a pride of six white lionesses in 2017 and a sanctuary spokesman Tanith Brown said: “This is not a job for just any lion, six feisty females are by no means a pushover.

“After moving to his new home in the white lion house, it was only the following day that Manzi decided to make his presence known in no uncertain terms.

“He bellowed his incredible roar throughout the entire lion house, reverberating the sound against the walls of the building, amplifying it even further.

“Manzi had moved in and was going to let his new neighbours know who was in charge.”

But this year keepers witnessed a rapid decline in Manzi’s health and, when vet Dr John Lewis examined him, a huge lump was discovered in his abdomen, thought to be an enlarged spleen caused by lymphoma, a type of cancer.

Manzi, who was 16 years old, was put to sleep last Tuesday morning because he could no longer be kept comfortable.

He is survived by his two brothers.

Tanith said: “Manzi conducted his whole life with majesty and authority.

“He was an absolute star. “Our priority now is to ensure the pride remains calm and we are closely observing the girls but they are doing very well.”

Lions are listed as “critically endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Big Cat Sanctuary’s aim is to contribute to global breeding programmes and support conservation projects worldwide.

Its work was the subject of a BBC TV series that saw sanctuary boss Giles Clark, hand-rearing newborns at his house.

Tanith added: “A big lion with an even bigger personality, Manzi will leave a huge void for a long time to come for anyone who knew him.

“He will be so missed.”

‘A big lion with an even bigger personality, Manzi will leave a huge void for a long time to come for anyone who knew him...’ - Tanith Brown

Manzi, who was affectionately dubbed the ‘Big Man’, first came to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden as a two-year-old

Picture: Alma Leaper Manzi with his pride of white lions