Erie Zoo Mourns Loss of African Lion Nala

Monday marked the peaceful euthanasia of the Erie Zoo’s African lion Nala, according to the zoo.

Nala was 24 years old, which exceeded the usual African lion lifespan of 10 to 18 years. She was one of the world’s oldest African lions.

She was being treated for age-related ailments typical of feline species, such as kidney failure, arthritis, and most recently, muscle atrophy.

Nala arrived at the Erie Zoo for the first time in October 1998 and was lovingly dubbed “queen of the Erie Zoo” due to her tendency to do things on her own time rather than the zookeepers’.