Lioness Abaja euthanized at Dresden Zoo

The 13-year-old lioness Abaja has been put to sleep at Dresden Zoo. According to the zoo, her health had continued to deteriorate. In recent weeks, the animal had increasingly developed symptoms such as loss of appetite and shortness of breath and had separated herself from the pride. Medication was finally no longer possible, it said.

"Abaja's serious illness came completely unexpectedly for us - at 13 years old, the lioness was also not yet at an advanced age," the zoo announced. The veterinary examinations had suggested a heart condition. In order to find the exact cause, the dead animal will be examined.

Abaja and her lion brother Damien were born unexpectedly in 2012, according to the zoo. The siblings were born three days apart, which is rare. Damien and the 20-year-old mother lion Layla are now reportedly the only ones of their kind at Dresden Zoo.