Linda McBride was anxiously waiting in line at the entrance of the Pueblo Zoo the day before one of her favorite attractions – the king of the jungle – was scheduled to leave for good.

“Can I help you?” a ticket-taker asked.

“Is Mumford going to be out today? I really need to see him,” McBride said as she scooted along with her walker.

McBride, who first saw Mumford the lion when he was born in 2016, said she is going to miss him.

“Of course, I am sad. They grow so fast,” she said.

Mumford was born at the Pueblo Zoo on Jan. 13, 2016. The lion, now full-grown, spent his last day in Pueblo on Thursday. He's headed for Como Park Zoo in Minnesota.

He was born a single lion cub, which is uncommon, and he has remained approachable in his adult years.

“He has a very quirky personality. For example, in the evenings he will try to pick up his own foot and walk away with it,” an employee said.

Though the zoo was crowded Thursday, most visitors weren’t aware that the lion was leaving.

McBride was there specifically to see him. She walked with purpose straight to the lions’ exhibit, where Mumford was relaxing on a flat rock.

Some children pressed against a glass cage to get a glance of him.

McBride comes to the zoo two to three times a week with a membership. She's even given names to some of the animals.

"See that bull over there with the great big horns? I call it Madonna,” she said with a laugh.

“I love them all here. They all are great. I love seeing all the kids out here having a good time,” McBride said. “I am an animal lover.”

McBride said, “Oh wow there he is,” and yelled, “Hey Mumford! Hey kitty!” as she arrived at the exhibit.

“Wow! He didn’t have a mane before. He was a little pup. I followed him all the way up,” she said. “He’s leaving tomorrow, and I sure am going to miss him.”

amestas@chieftain.com

Twitter: @mestas3517