Wildlife park lion chokes to death

Staff at Orana Park are devastated by the sudden death of their only breeding male lion, Toby.

A wildlife park is mourning the loss of its only male breeding lion, which choked to death on a piece of meat.

Staff at Christchurch's Orana Wildlife Park looked on helplessly as 8-year-old Toby suffocated while feeding about 11.30am on Monday.

Upon realising there was a problem, his keeper immediately called for back-up, but by the time two senior staff members arrived, Toby was unconscious.

The three keepers entered Toby's enclosure, dislodged the meat and tried unsuccessfully to revive him.

"This was a freak accident, but it was so frustrating that there was nothing we could do to prevent it," said park animal collection manager Ian Adams.

"We are all just totally gutted to lose such a wonderful animal in this manner. I've been feeding lions for 27 years at Orana and this is the first time something like this has happened."

A park veterinarian conducted a post-mortem and confirmed that Toby's internal organs were healthy and normal. He was buried at the park.

"This sort of thing is the worst part of our job," Mr Adams said. "You become really attached to these animals, we work with them daily and they are like friends and family so it is very difficult when you lose them."

Toby arrived at Orana Park in 1998, and, with females Kiara and Priscilla, created a new pride. He sired six cubs, three males and three females, all of which live at the park.