Henry Vilas Zoo Mourns Death of 13-Year-Old Lion Pelo
The Henry Vilas Zoo announced the death of Pelo, a 13-year-old lion, on September 18. Pelo had resided at the zoo for nearly his entire life. Zookeepers first observed Pelo exhibiting unusual movements and balance issues in June. He was subsequently diagnosed with chronic degenerative disc disease affecting his neck and spine. Despite an initial positive response to treatment, Pelo's health rapidly declined in recent weeks, leading the staff to make the decision to euthanize him. Pelo was born at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle and arrived at Henry Vilas Zoo in 2014 at 16 months old. He shared his life with a lioness named Shakura, with whom he had cubs, Ansel and Amboseli, in 2017. On his final day, Pelo was given a special 'party' with his favorite items, including a large box and a portion of pig for his last meal, and was surrounded by his long-term keepers.
