A door separating two groups of lions at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium reportedly failed in April, leading to the death of one of the female lions and a citation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. According to a USDA report released following a June 9 inspection, the zoo self-reported that on April 17, a sliding door meant to separate two groups of lions failed. The barrier was intended to keep an adult male lion, Roary, apart from an adult female named Asali, as they were known to be incompatible. Despite this precaution, zoo staff discovered one morning that all four lions housed in adjacent enclosures had ended up together, resulting in injuries to Roary and Asali. Veterinary staff treated the lions immediately. Asali was severely injured from a bite and had to be euthanized. Roary sustained minor injuries and later recovered. The two younger lionesses who shared the habitat were unharmed. According to the report, the zoo hypothesized that the sliding panel between the enclosures had been broken by one of the animals. The zoo was cited and asked to correct the issue by June 20 and ensure that the door is made of materials strong enough for the animals. The zoo said it was likely the window on the door that created a weak point. “Our lion shift doors are constructed with thick HDPE material, commonly used for this purpose. These doors were constructed to include a window that could be opened or closed - a tool commonly used in doors across accredited zoological organizations to safely facilitate animal introductions,” the zoo said in a statement. “All doors and locks are checked daily by keepers, however during the night, this door gave way. We determined that the window that was manufactured into the door likely created a structural weak point.” Following the incident, the zoo conducted an internal investigation and reinforced the doors. Similar doors throughout the zoo were evaluated, and no other vulnerabilities were found. A spokesperson for the zoo said the USDA, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the Zoological Association of America (ZAA) were all notified after the incident. The spokesperson added that the zoo has taken steps to turn the tragedy into a learning opportunity. “Since the incident occurred, in addition to conducting a full internal review the Zoo has also taken steps to turn this tragedy into a learning opportunity—for us and for our peers. As part of our commitment to animal wellbeing and continuous improvement, we have shared details of the incident with other accredited zoos. Our goal is simple: if our experience can prevent even one similar incident elsewhere, then we have a responsibility to speak up. “As a trusted institution, we know the importance of not just holding ourselves accountable but helping elevate standards across the profession. “The safety and wellbeing of our animals is—and always will be—our top priority. We continue to grieve the loss of Asali and are committed to doing everything in our power to prevent an incident like this from ever happening again.”