‘Bittersweet goodbye’: Lion named Simba leaving Detroit Zoo after more than a decade

ROYAL OAK (WWJ) — The Detroit Zoo is about to bid a “bittersweet goodbye” to a longtime favorite.

Simba, a lion who has called the Detroit Zoo home for more than a decade, is gearing up to make a move “in the near future.”

While the zoo has not released an exact date, officials announced in a Facebook post Thursday that Simba will be moving to Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

There, he will live in a “newly constructed, state-of-the-art lion habitat,” Detroit Zoo officials said in the post.

“The Association of Zoos and Aquariums recommended Simba's transfer to support the sustainability of a healthy, genetically diverse and demographically varied lion population in zoos,” officials said.

During his time at the zoo in Royal Oak, Simba fathered one cub — named Binti — and “made an incredible impact on our hearts,” officials said.

“Though we will miss him dearly, we know he will receive the highest level of care in his new home and continue to be a fantastic ambassador for African lions in the wild,” the post said.

Zoo officials are asking fans to wish Simba the best on his next journey by visiting him at the Detroit Zoo this weekend or sharing their favorite photos of Simba on the Facebook page.