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Tell This Zoo To Stop Hiding Animal Deaths And Release It Lions To Safety
Final signature count: 1,337
1,337 signatures toward our 30,000 goal
Sponsor: The Animal Rescue Site
A lioness is dead, taxpayer funds fuel secrecy, and the remaining lions suffer — it’s time to call for their release to sanctuaries where safety and compassion replace captivity and silence.
Asali, a lioness at the Columbus Zoo, was fatally mauled after a barrier failed between her and a male lion named Roary. The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed that the door separating the animals broke, allowing all four lions to mix overnight1. By morning, Asali had suffered a devastating bite wound and had to be euthanized. Roary survived with minor injuries, while two younger lionesses escaped harm.
The zoo admitted the sliding door contained a structural weakness — a window built into the panel that gave way2. Despite this admission, officials denied human error and instead framed the incident as a learning opportunity. For Asali, there was no second chance.
Weak Doors, Weaker Accountability
Even as the zoo pledged to reinforce doors, conduct internal reviews, and share lessons with peers3, it also refused to release basic information about other animal deaths. Public records requests were denied under the guise of nonprofit status, even though the zoo operates on publicly owned land and receives nearly $19 million annually in taxpayer funds4.
Transparency advocates and residents have voiced outrage. If taxpayer dollars support the facility, the public has a right to know when tragedies happen and how animals are cared for. Yet the zoo continues to promote baby animal births while hiding devastating losses from scrutiny.
The Cruel Reality of Captivity
This incident reflects a deeper truth: lions and other wild animals suffer in captivity. Research by Born Free U.S.A. shows zoos often exaggerate conservation claims while animals endure stress, restricted space, and poor welfare5. Enclosures, no matter how modern, cannot replicate the freedom of the wild or the sanctuary of open land.
Asali’s death is not just an isolated accident. It is a symptom of a system that prioritizes appearances over animal wellbeing. Lions deserve more than steel doors and glass windows separating life from death.
A Call for Compassion and Change
The remaining lions at the Columbus Zoo should not continue living under conditions that already proved fatal. Accredited sanctuaries can provide peace, safety, and dignity. If the zoo refuses to take compassionate action, then taxpayer support must end. Public resources should not uphold suffering and secrecy.
It is time for the Columbus Zoo to do the right thing. Asali’s death must not be in vain.
Sign the petition today to demand the release of the lions to sanctuaries or the removal of taxpayer funding from the Columbus Zoo.
