CHICAGO, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- An 18-year-old male lion at Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo was euthanized because of declining health in his old age, officials said.
Adelor was put down Wednesday after zoo staff witnessed a recent decline in the animal's health, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
"We have very careful quality of life parameters particularly with animals that are getting older," said Mark Kamhout, zoological manager of carnivores. "It got to the point where we could figure out it was time for him. It's never easy but it was definitely the right timing."
Adelor arrived at Lincoln Park Zoo in 1995 from a South African game reserve. At his time in Chicago, he sired five lion cubs and became an icon at the zoo.
After he was euthanized, fans of Adelor created a memorial Facebook page for him.
"We will miss you so much, Great King," one person wrote on the page. "We hope you are frolicking with your ancestors now."
