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DULUTH — The Lake Superior Zoo has lost its second African lion in three months.
Lily, 14, was euthanized after she showed signs of an illness earlier this week that developed into an untreatable condition, the zoo announced in a Facebook post Tuesday afternoon. In April, her brother, Leo, also 14, died in his sleep of an autoimmune disease. Their sister, Malkia, is the zoo's remaining lion.
“Losing an animal here at the Zoo is like losing a member of our family," Chief Executive Officer Haley Hedstrom said in the Facebook post. "Lily was a charismatic animal and will be missed greatly by our team, members and community.”
The decision to euthanize Lily came after zoo and veterinary staff found a possible mass and free fluid around her heart and chest. "She became progressively worse, lethargic and her appetite decreased dramatically," the Facebook post said.
Lily, Malkia and Leo were born Sept. 21, 2007 , and arrived at the zoo when they were cubs. Lily, who weighed more than 300 pounds, enjoyed "rubbing on the windows and interacting with guests, rubbing on special scent enrichments, rolling in a pile of her siblings and hearing herself roar," the Facebook post said.
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The zoo said that Malkia will continue to live in Duluth, but due to her age, it would be "dangerous and stressful" to introduce her to another lion or pride. To donate a gift for Malkia, go to lszooduluth.org/support/wish-list .
