Simon, the 17-year-old lion at Busch Gardens, has passed away.

On Thursday, Busch Gardens announced the passing of Simon, its cherished lion, who passed away just before turning 18. Simon’s health declined rapidly last week, leading the park to make the difficult decision to euthanize him. Despite the efforts of veterinary teams, he passed away surrounded by those who loved and cared for him.

Simon joined Busch Gardens in 2007 as a cub and lived a lively life, according to park representatives. He was known for his playful nature, from his cub days to adulthood, enjoying activities like breaking open coconuts and pumpkins and bathing in beds of spices and seasonings.