Portland, Oregon – The Oregon Zoo is mourning the death of an elder African lion named Zawadi. According to the zoo, Zawadi, born in 2007, lived to the admirable age of 18 years – making him one of the oldest male lions in North America.
Staff appreciated the noble cat for his goofy and playful personality, and his love of learning new things. Zawadi came to the Oregon zoo in 2009 at the age of two and resided in the Predators of the Serengeti area.
In Zawadi’s golden years, he received cold laser therapy for his aging joints, and special ramps were installed to aid him in reaching his favorite places. Kelly Gomez, who oversees the zoo’s Africa area, said,
“He had a whole team of veterinarians, nutritionists, keepers and maintenance staff working to give him the best life possible.”
Rest easy Zawadi.
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