The Alpine animal sanctuary Lions Tigers & Bears announced Wednesday the death of Louie, a white lion who had been with the facility for eight years.

Louie, a nickname for Lufuno, was rescued in April 2017 alongside two female lions, Zulu and Arusha, both deceased. The animals had spent years performing in film, television and live entertainment. Their former trainer made the decision to relinquish the animals to Lions Tigers & Bears.

"When trainers can no longer make money from an animal like Louie, those animals become disposable and are often discarded," said Bobbi Brink, founder and director of the animal sanctuary. "Over time, with patience, space, and love, we watched him reclaim his wild spirit. He became the protector he was always meant to be. This decision is heartbreaking, but

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