ATTLEBORO, Mass. (WPRI) — Capron Park Zoo in Attleboro announced the death of Nyalla the lion. Nyalla, a female lion born in 2004, passed away on New Year's Eve. She was brought to the zoo in 2005 with her sister Kayla to join the male lion Ramses in the exhibit for breeding purposes. ALSO READ: Buttonwood Park Zoo beloved elephant Ruth has died Credit: Kayla St. George The zoo said both Nyalla and Kayla had cubs in 2008 that were sent to other facilities as they got older. Nyalla and the other lions would get regular checkups as part of their care, the zoo said, but in 2014 she and her sister began to show kidney concerns. Later exams also showed arthritis. Kayla passed away in 2020 from chronic kidney disease, the zoo said. Zoo staff noticed Nayalla's activity was decreasing last month, and on Dec. 31, her behavior was "atypical during their morning checks." She passed away naturally later that afternoon. ALSO READ: Roger Williams Park Zoo mourns death of Willie the donkey "Although the staff are feeling the loss of Nyalla, they take pride in knowing the level of care she received allowed her to live well beyond her expected years," the zoo said. They will be performing a necropsy and pathology to determine her official cause of death. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup SIGN UP NOW