10/05/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/17ukoAFvP6/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Shera has spent nearly two decades as one of the Smithsonian National Zooβs most recognizable lions. π¦ Now, zoo staff are preparing to say goodbye.
On May 5, 2026, the zoo announced that Shera, a 21-year-old African lion, will soon be humanely euthanized because of worsening mobility problems tied to old age. According to the zoo, Shera has severe osteoarthritis and has become increasingly unsteady moving through her indoor and outdoor habitats.
Shera arrived in Washington, D.C., in 2006 alongside her sister Nababiep and male lion Luke. Over the years, she became a mother to eight cubs and helped establish a lion bloodline that now includes nearly 50 descendants living in zoos across the United States.
Zoo officials say the decision was not based on a sudden emergency. Instead, veterinarians and keepers evaluated her long-term quality of life, especially her ability to move safely and comfortably without reaching a crisis point.
For many visitors, Shera became more than an exhibit animal. She became part of the zooβs identity, and her final chapter is also a reminder of the emotional responsibility involved in caring for aging wildlife.
Source: Official animal update β Smithsonianβs National Zoo: How Do Zookeepers Know When Itβs Time to Say Goodbye to an Aging Animal?
