Zoo confirms Tsarukyan zoo lion dies after sedation

PanARMENIAN.Net - One of the lions transferred from the residence of Prosperous Armenia party leader Gagik Tsarukyan to Yerevan Zoo did not recover after being sedated, the zoo has confirmed.

"We regret to confirm that the female lion transferred to the zoo the previous day did not wake up after sedation due to her advanced age and accompanying illnesses, which have already been documented in the autopsy report.

The animal's organ systems showed multiple pathologies affecting the spleen, liver, lungs and heart. Cholecystitis-related changes were identified in the gallbladder, obesity was present, and free fluid was found in the abdominal cavity, which is consistent with age-related changes," the zoo said in a statement.

It was reported earlier that three lions and one tiger had been seized from Tsarukyan's residence, recognized as physical evidence and transferred to Yerevan Zoo.

Beginning early on July 6, officers from Armenia's National Security Service, State Revenue Committee and Ministry of Internal Affairs Police carried out simultaneous searches at more than 70 locations, including Tsarukyan's residence and companies linked to him. Tsarukyan was detained. Early on July 7, the Court of General Jurisdiction of Avan and Nor Nork administrative districts began considering a request for a pretrial preventive measure against him.