Two “inseparable” lions, Hubert and Kalisa, were put down together at the LA Zoo due to a rapid decline in their health.

Hubert and Kalisa were both 21 years old and had far outlived their normal lifespan of 14 to 17 years.

But were in ‘declining health’, the zoo said, and age-related illnesses had ‘diminished their quality of life’.

Hubert and Kalisa, a pair of 21-year-old lions who were ‘inseparable’, were put down together at their home in the Los Angeles Zoo, officials said

Both Hubert and Kalisa had far outlived their normal lifespan, but were in ‘declining health’, the zoo said. Hubert is pictured lovingly cleaning Kalisa as the two lounged at their home in the zoo

The couple were in ‘declining health’, the zoo said, and age-related illnesses had ‘diminished their quality of life’
The zoo has no plans to add more lions, for the moment.

Hubert and Kalisa’s pairing started at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo, where the lions met before being moved to LA in 2014.

While Hubert fathered 10 cubs, he never had any with Kalisa. Hubert was born Feb. 7, 1999 at the Lincoln Park Zoo, while Kalisa was born Dec. 26, 1998 at Woodland Park.

‘This is a very hard loss for our Zoo community,’ said Alisa Behar, curator of mammals at the zoo.  ‘You cannot think of Hubert without thinking of his companion, Kalisa; they’ve been an inseparable couple for years.’

The union of Kalisa and Hubert (pictured) started at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo, where the lions met before being moved to LA in 2014

While Hubert (lying asleep) fathered 10 cubs, he never had any with Kalisa
She described the two lions as having been an ‘iconic part of the L.A. Zoo experience’, and that staff and visitors were ‘touched by their loyal companionship’.

The animals have a declining population of anywhere between 23,000 to 39,000 lions and are listed as ‘vulnerable to human-wildlife conflict’, by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species.

Hubert and Kalisa were so close that their union was used to help celebrate Valentine’s Day at the zoo.

Hubert and Kalisa were so close that their union was used to help celebrate Valentine’s Day at the zoo. An image form a short video posted on Facebook is pictured
African lions can sleep as many as 20 hours per day to conserve their energy, according to the zoo’s website.

Unlike most cats, the lions are a ‘highly social species’.

They typically live in ‘prides, or groups. Prides of lions often include a few males along with several females and their young, the zoo said.