Jibari, a male lion who was a true symbol of the Miami Zoo, has died, leaving those who cared for him, and thousands of fans, in mourning. Zoo officials confirmed that Jabari, who was 17 years old, had to be euthanized late last week after years of battling chronic arthritis and mobility issues.
Jabari arrived at the Miami Zoo in 2008 from the Racine Zoo in Wisconsin, along with his brother, Kwame. According to a report by Local10 News, Jabari was the last remaining adult male lion at the zoo.
Ron Magill, Communications Director for the Miami Zoo, noted that Jabari exceeded the typical lifespan of a male lion in the wild, which rarely exceeds 12 years. Magill said that Jabari’s arthritis, primarily in his upper spine, had progressively limited his range of motion…