An African lion at the BioPark Zoo in Albuquerque has passed away after a two-month battle with lymphoma.
Cosmo, who had been at the zoo since 2004, was found dead early Monday. He was 18 years old, surpassing the median life expectancy for male lions in zoos by two years.
Mammal supervisor Shelly Dicks says Cosmo was a favorite among staff and described him as a "sweetheart."
Cosmo had kidney dysfunction and was diagnosed with lymphoma in June.
The Albuquerque zoo acquired Cosmo from the Exotic Feline Rescue Center in Indiana. He had been saved from a meth lab in Missouri, where he was used as a guard animal.
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