11/11/2025
It is with a heavy heart that I share some devastating news from Dambwa.
Last week, the local wildlife authority (DNPW) donated a hippo carcass for our lions. Unbeknownst to anyone at the time, the animal had died from anthrax poisoning. The guys on the ground didn’t know this, and neither did DNPW. Hence, it was cut up and fed to all of our lions. Meat is difficult to source, so the team were grateful for the hippo. However, the next day, some of the lions began showing swollen mouths and refused food, a classic sign of anthrax poisoning.
Fearing the worst, we acted immediately. The nearest DNPW vet was several hours away by road, so we flew him across Zambia to administer emergency antibiotic treatment to every lion. This flight has been privately funded. Despite these efforts, we are deeply saddened to confirm that Nkoya, Zulu, and Kovu have passed away due to anthrax poisoning. Their sponsors have been informed. I am, however, very relieved to tell you that the rest of the lions are responding well to the course of antibiotics and are on the road to recovery, which is truly remarkable. They will continue to receive medication for several days and be closely monitored.
The site is currently under quarantine whilst we work with the vets, DNPW and the relevant health and safety authorities to decontaminate the area. Clearly, there is an anthrax outbreak in the wildlife population (hence the dead hippo), which DNPW are now aware of.
Our staff, who have shown extraordinary courage, love, and commitment in caring for the lions through this crisis, are also receiving medical attention as a precaution. We are working closely with veterinary and public health authorities to ensure the safety of everyone.
This has been the worst few days of our lives here at Livingstone Lions. It has been a horrific shock and an unimaginable loss for all of us. These lions were part of our family, and their absence will be profoundly felt.
We know you will share in our grief and possibly some anger. I don’t have enough words of praise and gratitude for the incredible work done by Kennedy and his team to manage this situation on the ground. They are processing some of the hardest days of their working lives and continue to care for the remaining lions with extraordinary dedication.
We are heartbroken. Lessons will have been learned from this tragedy, which will ultimately safeguard wildlife, and our precious lions, in the future.
I am deeply sorry to be the one to give you this news.
RIP Zulu, Nkoya and Kovu. They are very much loved and will be very much missed by us all 💔
Jackie on behalf of Livingstone Lions
