SALINA -The Rolling Hills Zoo lost a beloved tiger Thursday when Raja had to be euthanized as a result of failing health, according to a media release.

Raja, who would have been twenty years old in November, had been with the Zoo since before its opening.

As one of its longest residents, he was much loved and revered by visitors and staff alike and will be greatly missed.

Raja was nearly 20-years old. Tigers generally live about half that long in the wild and between 16 and 18 years in captivity. But white tigers tend to live much shorter lives.