Whatever Happened...

An update on past news

Wednesday, July 17, 1996


Brother did in Isis the lioness

QUESTION: What ever happened to Isis the lioness that had a root canal done at Honolulu Zoo?

ANSWER: Her brother Apollo killed her May 8, 1993, minutes after the two were spotted lounging on the hill of the African Savanna exhibit at the zoo. She was 7 years old. The killing puzzled zoo officials who said lion siblings usually get along. But Apollo had attacked his sister before, even though she was very gentle.

Isis underwent a 45-minute root canal operation Dec. 13, 1992. She had a silver filling cap placed over the stump of a broken-off lower right fang after the root canal was done.

Honolulu dentists John Pittaway and brother Tom did the work on the anesthetized lioness. It was her second experience with root canal work. John Pittaway did the same thing for Isis' two upper fangs two years before. He said he had to acquire custom-made instruments for the lioness' dental work. Equipment used for normal dentistry is too small, he said.



Ever wonder what happened to a person, event or issue that has been in the news? We'll try to find out for you if you call the City Desk at 525-8640, email to citydesk@starbulletin.com or write us at P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802. Whatever happened to . . . runs Wednesdays.




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