A Leo couple must learn to live alone after their soulmate dies: A story of growth and change

Animal care and health personnel at the Los Angeles Zoo announced on Thursday that they had made the difficult decision to put two of their lions to sleep simultaneously. Hubert and Kalisa, two 21-year-old soulmates, were euthanized “due to their declining health and age-related illnesses that had diminished their quality of life.”

Hubert was born at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, while Kalisa was born at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. After their 2014 transfer to the Los Angeles Zoo, they met. Since that time, they were completely inseparable.

Beth Schaefer, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Zoo, stated that visitors and staff could not deny Hubert and Kalisa’s unbreakable bond. Schaefer told Bored Panda in a statement, “These lions were charismatic both together as a pair and separately, but they were rarely apart.”

According to Schaefer, the couple focused their undivided attention on one another as they frequently reclined, cuddled, and nuzzled.

“We were moved by the community members who shared their fond recollections of Hubert and Kalisa on social media with us. The couple’s affection for one another created a deeper connection with our guests and incredible empathy, as evidenced by their guests’ outpouring of support.

The average lifespan of a lion residing in the wild is between 12 and 16 years, whereas captive lions typically live to be 20 to 25 years old.

Multiple factors contribute to this disparity.

While living in captivity, they do not have to worry about predators. Although humans are the greatest threat to lions, they must also be wary of cheetahs and hyenas, which can take their food.

In addition, lions living in the wild lack access to medical services. If they sever or fracture their limb, they will suffer. If something were to happen to zoo lions, however, they would receive immediate medical care.

Environmental concerns are also a factor. In the untamed, lions rely solely on nature for their survival. However, if there is a drought, they will not have access to water or sustenance. However, captive lions do not face these issues because their living space will remain constant and zookeepers will provide them with ample food and water.