Beloved Lioness Adia Dies At Ellen Trout Zoo In Lufkin, Texas

The Ellen Trout Zoo staff sadly announced that Adia the female lion died on April 22nd, 2022. This comes just 17 days after her mate Mashaka died on April 5th, 2022.

Adia had recent weight loss and loss of appetite. It would not take much of a stretch to say that she died of a broken heart.

She was only 14 years and 10 months old at the time of her death. African lions can live 25 - 30 years in captivity.

Adia The Female Lion Dies Of A Broken Heart At Ellen Trout Zoo 

Initial diagnostic tests performed by the Ellen Trout Zoo staff indicated she was in the advanced stages of kidney failure. She was sent to Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory at Texas A & M University for a complete necropsy.

Adia and Mashaka now both leave behind their son, Ashur, to carry on their legacy at the Lufkin Zoo. Ashur gained worldwide attention when he was first born because of his white fur.

Employees kept watch over Adia for 110 days before they found the 4.5-pound cub on July 15th, 2016. Ashur was her second cub. 

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Adia Gave Birth To Ashur The First All White Cub At Ellen Trout Zoo 

Adia's first cub, Sango, had to be hand-fed by the staff at the zoo because Adia failed to produce milk. When Ashur was born she had all the right motherly instincts and had no issues feeding Ashur herself.

At the time of Ashur's birth, only one other lion cub with white fur had been born in a zoo in North America. Eventually, he grew out of his all-white fur and you would never know he was once a huge star.

Aida will be missed by all of us here in Deep East Texas.