LOS ANGELES — An elderly lioness named “Cookie” has died at the Los Angeles Zoo, 18 months after the death of her male companion.
Zoo officials said in a statement Friday that Cookie had been under veterinary care for a month and her quality of life was diminishing quickly, so she was euthanized. A post-mortem investigation showed she had cancer.
Cookie was a mature 23 years old, the same as her companion Lionel was when he died at the zoo in April, 2011. Lions’ life expectancy in the wild is 15 to 18 years.
The zoo says that in 2008, Cookie had a serious heart condition that was solved through surgery, giving her several more healthy years.
Published: Friday, Sep. 28, 2012 – 9:35 pm
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/28/4864703/cookie-elderly-23-year-old-lion.html#storylink=cpy
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