The animal sanctuary Lions Tigers & Bears on Wednesday announced the death of Louie, a white lion who had been with the Alpine facility for eight years.

Louie, a nickname for Lufuno, was rescued in April 2017 alongside two female lions, Zulu and Arusha, who also have died. The animals had spent years performing in film, television and live entertainment. Their former trainer made the decision to relinquish them to Lions Tigers & Bears.

Louie (see him below in a post from last month) was 12 when he arrived in Alpine.

“When trainers can no longer make money from an animal like Louie, those animals become disposable and are often discarded,” said Bobbi Brink, founder and director of the animal sanctuary. “Over time, with patience, space and love, we watched him reclaim his wild spirit. He

See Full Page