Necropsy results have determined that the cause of death for the African lion, Sahar, to be due to encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) caused by a fungal infection.

The infection, which caused lesions in both the brain and a lung, was not detectable by routine examination or by the standard clinical tests that were done. Outward signs of any illness were not seen until the day prior to his death. The fungus is considered to be non-contagious.

Sahar was born on January 27, 2010, at the Bronx Zoo/Wildlife Conservation Society and moved to Lincoln Park Zoo in February 2012. Arriving at 2 years of age, Sahar had become an icon at Lincoln Park Zoo along with his fellow pride members, Kamali and Zalika, 5-year-old female littermates.

Sahar and Kamali were donated to Rolling Hills Zoo by Lincoln Park Zoo as part of the African Lion Species Survival Plan, a program of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, while Zalika is on loan to Rolling Hills Zoo from the San Diego Zoo. The donation and move were done in preparation for Lincoln Park Zoo’s renovation of their landmark lion house.