GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The Fort Wayne, Indiana, community is already falling in love with a former John Ball Zoo resident, his new zoo says. Back in November, John Ball Zoo announced Kiume the lion would be leaving for a new facility, after living in Grand Rapids since 2012. His mate, Abe na, had died in April. Later that month he was moved to the Fort Wayne Zoo in Indiana to share a habitat with Ina, a lioness who also lost her mate last year. The 13-year-old African lion is adjusting well to his new home, Fort Wayne Zoo Executive Director Rick Schuiteman and Vice President of Animal Care and Conservation Education Michelle Smurl told News 8. "Everybody is falling in love with him. How can you not?" Smurl said. "He's a gentleman." Former John Ball Zoo lion Kiume has moved to Fort Wayne Zoo. (Courtesy Fort Wayne Zoo) Kiume started out in quarantine — a standard practice for a new zoo animal — before being moved to behind-the-scenes spaces to start getting adjusted to his new keepers. He now has access to his habitat, though he can still choose to go back inside while he adjusts. The zoo announced the newcomer Thursday, the day before it opened for the season. This weekend, he was already drawing crowds. "When I went out to see him on Saturday, that whole viewing area was full of people just enjoying him and watching her. It was just fun to see that excitement," Schuiteman said. He said Kiume wasn't venturing too far into the habitat, mostly sticking close to the door that leads to the behind-the-scenes spaces. Ina was sitting just a few feet away from him, instead of her normal spot up on a hill. Former John Ball Zoo lion Kiume has moved to Fort Wayne Zoo. (Courtesy John Ball Zoo via Fort Wayne Zoo) "I think she wanted to be close to him ... I think she was sort of encouraging him to come out a little bit more and more into the exhibit. So it was fun to just see her sitting there in a different spot watching him. And she would not take her eyes off him — I think she might have a little crush," Schuiteman joked. "We're very fortunate to have a female that is willing to train a new male," Smurl added. "She's very welcoming of males. What I've seen with a big large cats in the past is that introductions are really difficult. ... There could be a lot of aggression. With Ina, she just shows him the ropes, she's really laid back about it. ... I think both of them are very calming for each other." She said the duo are a "magical pair." They're close in age, and logistically it was relatively easy to have John Ball Zoo transport him from Michigan — though there was still a lot of paperwork and safety protocols involved. Former John Ball Zoo lion Kiume has moved to Fort Wayne Zoo. (Courtesy John Ball Zoo via Fort Wayne Zoo) This season, John Ball Zoo has introduced two new lions, a 6-year-old female named Amara and a 9-year-old male name Upepo. The pair came from their old home in Knoxville, Tennessee. But if West Michigan lion lovers miss Kiume, the Fort Wayne Zoo is about a two and a half hour drive away. Fort Wayne Zoo has around 1,500 other animals across 42 acres, including another former John Ball Zoo resident, Nima the red panda — Smurl said "she's doing really well." "We're just so grateful to the John Ball Zoo team for being open to the idea (of moving Kiume)," Schuiteman said. "We're super excited to have Kiume here." ...read more read less