Days of Future past: Siegfried and Roy's white lion dies in Cincinnati Zoo

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/20/future-siegfried-roy-white-lion-dies-cincinnati-zoo

Version 0 of 1.

An ageing white lion that was given to the Cincinnati Zoo by the Las Vegas illusionists Siegfried and Roy had to be euthanised, because of age-related health issues.

The zoo said Future – one of two male African white lions loaned permanently by Siegfried and Roy in 1998 – was put down Thursday. He was 17 years old and had struggled to walk in recent days.

Mark Campbell, the zoo’s director of animal health, said it was the humane thing to do. The average lifespan for lions in North American zoos is nearly 17 years.

Future and his brother, named Sunshine, came to the Cincinnati Zoo when they were three months old. They are considered a threatened species.

Siegfried and Roy are also known for performing their flamboyant illusionist act with white tigers. In October 2003 one such tiger, Montecore, attacked and mauled Roy onstage. The pair returned to the stage five years later.