Khan was a male African lion that I had the privilege of helping to care for while volunteering at the Southern Florida Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Inc. in Homestead, Florida. Khan was brought to the center by animal control authorities after having received a severe beating from his trainer at a traveling circus.
As a result of his injuries, Khan was never able to be kept again with other lions, and spent his remaining years enjoying his retirement at the center. In spite of the mistreatment that he had received at the hands of humans, Khan was one of the gentlest big cats I’ve ever worked with. He always enjoyed having someone brush his huge mane, and would delicately take food when being hand fed. Khan eventually reached the age of 23 before passing, which is about twice the life expectancy of a lion in the wild.
