After living long lives, companions to the Los Angeles Zoo’s African lion Hubert and Kalisa died, zoo officials said Thursday.
The lions, both 21, were slaughtered after age-related health problems began to diminish their quality of life, the Los Angeles Zoo said in a press release.
Hubert and Kalisa shared a strong bond that was visible to guests and staff for the past six years of their company at the Los Angeles Zoo, said director of animal programs Beth Schaefer.
“These lions were charismatic together as partners and separately, but they were hardly ever separated from each other,” he said. “Their absolute attention was always on each other as they rested together, snuggled and often stroked.”
Although Hubert sired 10 cubs during his lifetime, he and Kalisa had no cubs together.
“This is a very difficult loss for our zoo community,” said Alisa Behar, the zoo’s mammal curator, in a statement.
Hubert and Kalisa in 2017.
(Jamie Pham / LA Zoo)
“In the early morning hours, the staff routinely listened to Hubert’s waking roars, and I personally would miss hearing them on my walks in the gardens. You cannot think of Hubert without thinking of his partner, Kalisa; They have been an inseparable couple for years. “
Hubert was born on February 7, 1999 at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago and Kalisa was born on December 26, 1998 at Oklahoma City Zoo. They eventually split up entirely at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo, then moved together to the Los Angeles Zoo in 2014.
The lions lived longer than most. According to zoo officials, most African lions in the wild live in adolescence, and those in captivity live an average of 17 years.
“Hubert and Kalisa are an iconic part of the Los Angeles Zoo experience, and our staff and guests have been touched by their loyal company,” said Zoo Executive Director Denise Verret in a statement. “Their longevity is a true testament to the level of expert care our veterinary and animal care teams provide to our elderly animals. These lions will continue to be a positive part of our history and will be greatly missed. ”
Due to the depletion of prey and the illegal trade in lion body parts for traditional medicine and other uses, African lions are considered vulnerable. There are believed to be fewer than 25,000 lions living in Africa.
