A 17-year-old female lion passed away in the Tiger Rescue Sanctuary, located in North Carolina, due to extreme temperatures during the heatwave.

Zookeepers at the Tiger Rescue Sanctuary tried their best to save the life of Sheba, the 17-year-old female lion.

The staff did their best for one day in order to save Sheba, the lioness.

Medical experts in the Sanctuary ran IV fluids and performed other procedures for one day.

The official Facebook page of Tiger Rescue Sanctuary shared the terrible news of Sheba.

The post said, “We have sad news to share about the loss of Sheba Lion. Sheba got overheated this past week due to vomiting after she ate her meal, not that she just got too hot because of the weather.”

The post added, “The animal care team saw her vomit and kept watch over her the entire time. They called for additional help when it was clear that she was not able to recover on her own. We started her on cool IV and SubQ fluids and other cooling techniques.”

They concluded, “Unfortunately her age made her more susceptible to the increased temperatures. It is likely that her kidneys and liver were already not in the best of condition before this and simply couldn’t handle the additional stress. At 17 plus years of age, most cats have some kidney issues or other health issues that make them more fragile.”

The Tiger Rescue Sanctuary is a non-profit organization that rescues animals that were seized, abandoned, or are out of the home.

The post added, “She always kept [fellow lions] Sebastian and Tarzan in line and was the first to work out new enrichment items. Her confidence and leadership were seen the moment she stepped into quarantine on her first day. Rather than being worried about the new people, she felt the need to walk around and check out everything about her new space.

The Tiger Sanctuary said that Sheba will be remembered as the “matriarch” pride of three.

She was originally from Texas and was brought into the zoo.

The post continued, “She walked the perimeter, stood on her hind feet and looked at the roof, and sniffed every corner. While Sebastian and Tarzan hold a special place in my heart as the more delicate members of the pride, Sheba will also stand out as the epitome of what it means to be a lion – strong, confident, and smart. Her presence will be greatly missed in the sanctuary, but most especially on Oak Hill.”