Visitors to the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo will notice an absence when it opens on April 23.
During a medical exam Wednesday, veterinarians found nodules on Bill the Lion, and zoo officials announced Thursday he has cancer.
Bill the Lion is normally in the Africa section of the zoo, but he’ll no longer be in the public exhibit. Instead, he’s in a behind-the-scenes exercise area where zoo staff are making sure he’s comfortable with his favorite food and toys.
Dr. Joe Smith, the director of animal programs, says Ina, the zoo’s only other lion, is aware Bill is sick.
“They don’t necessarily go through the same mourning that we do,” Smith said. “We do know that lions are social. They do like companionship, and that’s something we’ll be focusing on for Ina moving forward.”
Bill’s 10th birthday is July of this year. Lions in captivity typically live to their mid-teens or even twenties. Zoo spokeswoman Bridget Pearson says it’s a sad day for everyone.
“Bill was very beloved, not only by our community but also by staff, so everyone’s taking it a little hard, of course we want to make sure he’s cared for in the best way possible, but it’s been kind of a tough day today, everyone’s a little bit quieter, everyone’s a little bit, heavy hearts,” Pearson said.
Smith says he isn’t sure whether Bill will live for days, weeks or months, but his cancer is aggressive and advanced.
After Bill dies, he’ll receive a postmortem exam and will be cremated.
