The Big Sleep for the Big Kitty

BOSTON –A 12-year-old lion at the Franklin
Park Zoo whose chronic kidney failure didn’t respond to weeks of treatment
was euthanized on Thursday.

The condition of the African lion, named Cliff, worsened over the last
week, leading the zoo’s veterinarians to decide to euthanize the animal,
the zoo said in a statement.

"This is a sad day at Zoo New England. Cliff will be sorely missed," said
John Linehan, president and chief executive of Zoo New England, the nonprofit
that runs Boston’s Franklin Park Zoo and the Stone Zoo in Stoneham

We knew that cat, and he was a noble beast.  Regal,
deadly, with the hidden threat of predatory violence smoldering in every
baleful glance and stalking step, he was neverthelsess just a very big
kitty, in need of a good scratch and a nap in the sun.

We hope he is happy  chasing gazelles in the
big Savana in the sky. He
will be missed.

from.the
Boston Globe