DENVER - "Baby," a 17-year-old female South African lion, died at the Denver Zoo.
"Baby had been battling several, chronic age-related health issues over the last few years. When she began refusing her food and medications, we knew she wasn't going to recover. These decisions are never easy, but we felt the humane decision was to euthanize her," said Staff Veterinarian Betsy Stringer.
She was the last surviving member of the first pride to live in the Zoo's Benson Predator Ridge exhibit, according to the zoo.
The elderly lion was euthanized on the morning of March 29 following what zookeepers say was decline in health due to numerous age-related issues.
According to the Denver Zoo, the median life span of lions in zoos is 16.8 years and lions in the wild live about 15 years.
Baby was born in 1998 and came to Denver Zoo from Ohio's Columbus Zoo in May 2004. She gave birth to three cubs in two litters at the Denver Zoo. She was a mother to a female, named Asali, in November 2005, and a male and female, named Razi and Zuri, in August 2006.
"Baby was a great lion. She could be pretty stubborn sometimes, but was very playful and incredibly smart," says Denver Zoo Vice President for Animal Care Hollie Colahan in a statement.
Four remaining lions live at the zoo, a 17-year-old male Rajah, 2-year-old male Sango and 2-year-old females Sabi and Neliah.
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