Sacramento Zoo’s African lion Kamau dies at 16. Mourned as ‘charismatic and iconic’ animal

The Sacramento Zoo announced Saturday afternoon that its African lion, Kamau, has died.

“The Sacramento Zoo is mourning the loss of one of our most charismatic and iconic animals ...,“ the zoo said in a statement.

The lion’s death comes after the zoo issued a statement Friday saying Kamau would be pulled off the exhibit because of his declining health. The zoo attributed the decline to “advanced age.”

At 16 years old, Kamau was considered an elderly lion. African lions typically live 10 to 15 years, the zoo said, but can live up to 25 years in captivity.

“Our staff did everything possible to make Kamau comfortable ...,” the zoo said. “Over the last few weeks, Kamau had developed worsening gastrointestinal problems with decreased interest in food, and the difficult decision to proceed with human euthanasia was made when medical treatment options failed to provide sufficient relief from his condition.”

Kamau came to Sacramento from the San Diego Zoo in 2008. In 2014, he sired a litter of cubs. And in 2019, the zoo built a larger habitat for him and his mate, Cleo, allowing visitors to get “nose-to-nose” with him, the zoo said.

Kamau was one of the most popular residents at the Sacramento Zoo, leaving crowds awe-struck with his impressive roar.

“Kamau was adored by many over the years, and we appreciate the love and support of our Zoo family,” the zoo said.

This story was originally published June 17, 2023 at 3:38 PM.