Leonard was euthanized at the Oakland Zoo. (Oakland Zoo)

OAKLAND, CA — Staff at Oakland Zoo is grieving the loss of Leonard, the zoo's eldest African lion, who was put down Sunday.

"Our hearts go out to our Animal Care staff who took tremendous care of this magnificent being, and to Leonard himself," zoo staff wrote on Facebook on Tuesday. "Rest in peace, beautiful lion."

Leonard, 19, was euthanized in consideration of its struggles with severe and progressive arthritis and kidney disease, according to the zoo.

The lion was brought to the Oakland Zoo along with its sister Sandy after the pair was rescued from a private home by Houston's Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals chapter, according to zookeeper Erica Calcagno, who took care of Leonard from the time it was a 6-month-old cub.

When Sandy died of cancer in 2016, Leonard was affected, zoo spokesperson Erin Harrison said.

"They were super closely bonded," Harrison said. "For weeks afterwards, especially in the mornings, you would hear him roar."

It helped when, in July 2016, three male cubs named Mandla, Tandie, and Gandia were introduced to the zoo's African lion habitat, Harrison said.

They would rub heads together, roar at each other, and check each other out constantly," Harrison said. "It was definitely enriching to have the cubs in the habitat."

The Oakland Zoo will be hosting a Lion Appreciation Day on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to raise awareness about African lions' vulnerable species status.

— Bay City News



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