PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Zoo’s beloved lion Zawadi Mungu, known as the ‘elder statesman’ of their African lion pride, has died.
At 18 years old, Zawadi was one of the oldest male lions in North America. He’d been slowing down in his advanced years, caregivers said, and they added ramps in the habitat so he could still reach his favorite spot up on the rocks.
Zawadi was born at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in 2007, and moved to Oregon in 2009 with the opening of the Predators of the Serengeti area, where he fathered two litters of cubs – earning the title of ‘Father of the Year’ in 2014…