NJ Zoo mourns death of friendly lion ‘Simba’

🔴 African lion in Popcorn Park dies

🔴 Refugee officials said he was “handsome”.

🔴 Earlier this year, another lion arrived at Popcorn Park

LACEY – A worshiped lion at a Forked River sanctuary has roared for the last time.

Simba, who lived at Popcorn Park for ten years, has died, the park announced on Facebook late Tuesday morning.

Before joining Popcorn Park in 2014, the African lion was cared for at a sanctuary in Alabama. However, the owner became ill and could no longer care for Simba and the other animals.

According to the shelter, Simba showed up with three other big cats. He was “severely underweight” when he arrived but recovered with care from Popcorn Park staff, the shelter said.

Popcorn Park executive director John Bergmann said Simba was a “personal” lion.

“Simba’s roar every morning meant something special to all of us and could be heard for miles around. It meant so much to us to know that we were helping him and that he was giving us that love back – which he did tenfold,” said Bergmann .

Simba enjoyed the company of another lion in recent months.

Kanu joined Popcorn Park in December. He celebrated his 10th birthday earlier this year.

RELATED: NJ Zoo is celebrating a very special birthday for one of its own animals

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