White lion dies at Toledo Zoo

Wisdom, on loan from Siegfried & Roy, had spinal surgery Thursday

7/19/2013
BLADE STAFF
White lions from Sigfried and Roy at the Toledo Zoo in 2003.
White lions from Sigfried and Roy at the Toledo Zoo in 2003.

One of three white lions on loan from magicians Siegfried & Roy died Thursday after a spinal surgery to treat a deteriorating condition, zoo officials said today.

Named Wisdom, the lion was born at the Cincinnati Zoo in 2001 and was brought to the Toledo Zoo in 2003, officials said. It lived in the zoo's Tembo Trail exhibit with his brothers, Courage and Legend.

“Wisdom had a history of back issues which our veterinary team successfully managed with therapeutic steroidal treatments,” said Randi Meyerson, the zoo’s assistant director of animal programs. “However, recently his symptoms began to worsen.”

Wisdom did not awaken from the anesthesia administered for the surgery, according to the zoo.