KNOWSLEY Safari Park has announced the death of seven-year-old lion, Mojo, who suffered internal injuries following a fight with the lionesses in the pride. 

During routine morning checks on Tuesday, February 12, keepers at the Prescot venue discovered Mojo had sustained injuries as a result of the fight.

However, despite treatment he later died, which a post mortem revealed was down to internal injuries not visible on external examination.

The park said this “is not uncommon within a mixed sex group and is a part of natural, lion behaviour”.

A spokesperson for the safari park said: “Mojo was a very popular lion with both visitors and keepers. Both he and his brother Scooter had been successfully integrated with the pride of females for 1.5 years.

“This behaviour is something that naturally happens in the wild. Lions live in a pride comprising of related females who remain members of a pride long-term. 

“Male lions become a member of the pride because the females accept him as such. As a result, the life of a male lion is much more socially precarious than that of the females. 

“The lion has to win the grace of the females to become their pride male. Conflict is a normal part of lion social behaviour. In most instances these are superficial scratches and cuts, in rare events more severe injuries can be sustained.

“Mojo died whilst recovering from the anaesthetic and the post mortem revealed this was the most humane outcome as he would not have recovered from other injuries which were not immediately visible without a post mortem examination.

“The team are very experienced with working with lions. They will continue to monitor the pride dynamic as they always have, working closely with the park veterinarian.”