'Inseparable' elderly lion couple put down together so neither has to live alone

mirror.co.uk:

A pair of lion companions at LA Zoo who were 'hardly every apart' have been put down so that one would not have to live without the other.

African lions Hubert and Kalisa were both 21-years-old when the decision was made this week to euthanise them after age-related problems saw a 'rapid decline in their health', the zoo said in a statement.

Lions in the wild are expected to live to be in their early teens and those in captivity live to be 17 on average, so both far exceeded their life expectancy.

Staff said Hubert and Kalisa shared a strong bond and were inseparable in their years together at the zoo. Beth Schaefer, animal programs director for the zoo, told the LA Times : "These lions were charismatic both together as partners and