PEORIA, Ill. – The Peoria Zoo’s male lion, Arthur, died on Thursday.
Zoo Director Yvonne Strode says Arthur was diagnosed earlier this year with lymphoma, and over the last week, his quality of life deteriorated.
In response to Arthur’s condition, Strode says the Zoo’s animal care team made the difficult decision to euthanize him.
Arthur was 18 years old. He had been at the Peoria Zoo since 2008, the same year his mate Lizzy moved to Peoria. The pair had four cubs in 2015 that have since been transferred to other zoos.
The median life expectancy for lions is around 17 years in captivity.
In Arthur’s honor, the Peoria Zoo is asking the public to share their favorite memories or pictures of Arthur on the Zoo’s social media pages to help celebrate his impact on central Illinois,” says Peoria Park District Executive Director Emily Cahill.
In addition, donations are being accepted for lion conservation and animal enrichment for the Zoo that can be made HERE.
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