ATV Live at 5 - Rutledge The Heaviest Lion in Captivity August 22, 1997 (Nova Scotia)

Segment from ATV's Live at 5 from August 22, 1997. Paul, Nancy, and Joanne introduce us to Rutledge, the king of King's County and star of Oaklawn Farm Zoo. Rutledge was born on May 28, 1991, at Oaklawn Farm Zoo in Aylesford, Nova Scotia, to parents Leo and Cleo. From the start, he stood out as the largest of his litter, and his enormous size would soon capture the world’s attention. Hand-raised by staff at Oaklawn, Rutledge grew far beyond the typical size for an African lion. By the time he was about four and a half years old, he weighed approximately 366kg (Over 800lbs), an extraordinary weight for a lion in human care. His massive frame and gentle temperament earned Rutledge a place in the Guinness World Records in 1997 as the heaviest lion in captivity at that time, making him a celebrated animal both locally and internationally. He would pass away in 2009 at the age of 17. Oaklawn Farm Zoo was one of my absolute favorite places to visit during the summer months. The zoo itself was a family-run institution that opened in 1984, growing from a small farm into Nova Scotia’s largest zoo with a variety of exotic animals. After more than 40 years of operation, the zoo announced in December 2023 that it would close permanently and not reopen for the 2024 season, marking the end of an era for the community that had long cherished Rutledge and many other animal ambassadors. I broke this piece out of the full broadcast for those seeking information on Oaklawn Farm Zoo. The Full ATV Live and 5 broadcast from August 22nd is available here: #betamaxking #1980s #80s #1990s #90s #retrotelevision #retrocanada Channel contact email: [email protected]