Fort Wayne zoo's popular lion dies week after cancer found

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) - The Fort Wayne Children's Zoo says its nearly 10-year-old lion has died after being recently diagnosed with rapidly spreading cancer.

Zoo officials say veterinary staffers decided to euthanize the lion named Bill on Wednesday as his condition continued to worsen despite treatment.

Bill has been among the zoo's biggest attractions since 2008 when he arrived in Fort Wayne with the lioness named Ina. They've been the only lions at the zoo and popular features of its African Journey section.

Animal programs director Joe Smith says the lion's cancer diagnosis was confirmed last week, but zookeepers had noticed him eating less and appearing listless over the last several months.