‘Cherished' 3-ton animal featured in movies dies at Florida wildlife park at 65
A beloved and massive 65-year-old animal — the oldest of his kind in the Americas — living out his days at a Florida wildlife park has died.
Lu the African hippopotamus was known for his 'calm presence and gentle personality' that drew in visitors at the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park for decades, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection said.
While he attracted a following at the central Florida wildlife park, he starred on the silver screen as well, featuring in movies and TV shows from the 1960s such as 'Daktari,' 'Cowboy in Africa,' the 'Art Linkletter Show' and the 'Herb Albert Special,' according to park officials.
'For more than 60 years, Lu was not just an animal in the park; he was a friend, a fixture and a treasured member of the community,' according to a statement on the Florida State Parks website. 'Children grew up visiting him, and many returned as adults with children of their own to say hello to the gentle giant.'
The hippo was so beloved that when the Florida Park Service bought the property in 1989 and planned to rehome the exotic species living there, public support led to the governor making Lu a Florida citizen, helping him stay at his longtime home.
He was born at the San Diego Zoo in January 1960, making him the oldest hippo in North and South America at the time of his death, according to Florida State Parks.
Longtime park visitors recalled their years of experiences with the 'cherished' 3-ton hippo, who was also known for flinging poop at those who got too close.
'He was an icon that will be greatly missed at the park,' one visitor wrote on Facebook. 'I've been going to the park for over 50 years and he's always been a favorite (all) these years.'
Another visitor wrote she was 'devastated' by the news.
'I have been seeing this wonderful guy since I was a little girl and I'm almost in my 30's,' she wrote on Facebook. 'He lived a long life. He is forever loved by me and so many others.'
The state park is in Citrus County, about a 70-mile drive north from Tampa.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Hyundai pitches hybrids as ‘Best of Both Worlds' in Paris, Texas
This story was originally published on Marketing Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Marketing Dive newsletter. Hyundai launched a marketing campaign, 'Best of Both Worlds,' in support of its Sante Fe and Tuscon hybrid vehicles, per a press release. Two ad spots and two long-form videos feature a French cowboy who lives in Paris, Texas and drives Hyundai's hybrids. A separate campaign, 'He Got Money,' focuses on fuel savings and is targeted at an African-American audience. The campaigns, from Innocean USA and Culture Brands, respectively, come as the automaker has seen hybrid vehicle sales increase 44% so far in 2025, despite ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty. Hyundai is going all-in on its hybrid vehicles with a pair of ads that mix humor and value propositions like performance and savings. The automaker has seen a big boost in hybrid vehicle sales, with total hybrid vehicle sales jumping 5% in May, per details shared with Marketing Dive. The 'Best of Both Worlds' effort focuses on Jean-Luc, a cowboy born in Paris, France who lives in Paris, Texas. A 30-second 'Cowboy' spot which debuted on June 8 during the NBA finals focuses on the Sante Fe Hybrid and shows how the titular character can have 'more cheese' on his plate by saving on fuel. 'Mosey' focuses on the Tucson Hybrid and will air later this month. In addition, a long-form YouTube spot has a cinematic feel, albeit one drawn more from Westerns and not Wim Wenders' art house classic 'Paris, Texas.' However, the campaign was filmed on location in the Texas town, and Hyundai will donate an estimated $30,000 from production to support local schools in the community. Created by Innocean with media by Canvas, 'Best of Both Worlds' will run across broadcast, digital and programmatic platforms, with custom digital content on TikTok, Meta, Reddit, YouTube and beyond. In a separate but related effort, Hyundai continued its series of 'Okay Hyundai' ads with 'He Got Money.' The 30-second ad focuses on a character who owns a hybrid and the gossip about his seemingly extravagant lifestyle, which — in a nod to ongoing price pressures — includes a fridge full of eggs. 'He Got Money' will run across broadcast and digital platforms in both 15- and 30-second formats and will be featured in influencer partnerships. The ad, which is targeted at an African-American audience, features Kathleen Bradley — best known as Mrs. Parker from the cult classic "Friday' — and is from Hyundai's African American agency of record, Culture Brands. ''He Got Money' shows how the Tucson Hybrid empowers drivers to enjoy more of what matters—style, comfort, and community—thanks to real savings at the pump,' said Erik Thomas, director of experiential and multicultural marketing, Hyundai Motor America, in a press release. Hyundai's increased hybrid sales follow the automaker becoming the launch partner of Amazon Autos late last year. One global auto brand moved approximately $80 million in annual ad spend from The Trade Desk to Amazon's ad platform by the end of Q1, partially due to its ability to sell its cars via the online retailer, Adweek reported. Hyundai is currently the only automaker that has that functionality on Amazon. Recommended Reading Mattel's Hot Wheels ignites 'challenger spirit' with cinematic ad
Axios
5 hours ago
- Axios
Lucifer, a famed Florida hippo beloved by generations, dies at 65
Lucifer, a fixture of Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park and the oldest known hippopotamus in the Americas, died on Sunday at the age of 65. Why it matters: "Lu wasn't just a hippo. He was Citrus County's hippo," the county's newspaper wrote in an obit. And for six decades, he served as "a living link between generations of park visitors." Catch up quick: He was born at the San Diego Zoo on Jan. 26, 1960, and came to Homosassa Springs in 1964. Lu starred in a number of films and TV shows in the 1960s, including "Daktari" and "Cowboy in Africa." When the state assumed control of the park in 1989 and shifted its focus to native Florida species, Lu's future became uncertain. But after local uproar and a letter-writing campaign, then-Gov. Lawton Chiles made Lu an honorary citizen of Florida, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. What they're saying: "Children grew up visiting him, and many returned as adults with children of their own to say hello to the gentle giant," the department said in a statement.
Miami Herald
6 hours ago
- Miami Herald
‘Cherished' 3-ton animal featured in movies dies at Florida wildlife park at 65
A beloved and massive 65-year-old animal — the oldest of his kind in the Americas — living out his days at a Florida wildlife park has died. Lu the African hippopotamus was known for his 'calm presence and gentle personality' that drew in visitors at the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park for decades, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection said. While he attracted a following at the central Florida wildlife park, he starred on the silver screen as well, featuring in movies and TV shows from the 1960s such as 'Daktari,' 'Cowboy in Africa,' the 'Art Linkletter Show' and the 'Herb Albert Special,' according to park officials. 'For more than 60 years, Lu was not just an animal in the park; he was a friend, a fixture and a treasured member of the community,' according to a statement on the Florida State Parks website. 'Children grew up visiting him, and many returned as adults with children of their own to say hello to the gentle giant.' The hippo was so beloved that when the Florida Park Service bought the property in 1989 and planned to rehome the exotic species living there, public support led to the governor making Lu a Florida citizen, helping him stay at his longtime home. He was born at the San Diego Zoo in January 1960, making him the oldest hippo in North and South America at the time of his death, according to Florida State Parks. Longtime park visitors recalled their years of experiences with the 'cherished' 3-ton hippo, who was also known for flinging poop at those who got too close. 'He was an icon that will be greatly missed at the park,' one visitor wrote on Facebook. 'I've been going to the park for over 50 years and he's always been a favorite (all) these years.' Another visitor wrote she was 'devastated' by the news. 'I have been seeing this wonderful guy since I was a little girl and I'm almost in my 30's,' she wrote on Facebook. 'He lived a long life. He is forever loved by me and so many others.' The state park is in Citrus County, about a 70-mile drive north from Tampa.
