Lobo, a male gray wolf (subspecies name Common Wolf) at Common Wolf Tama Zoo, died today, February 23, 2014, at the age of 13. The cause of death was liver cancer.

Lobo was born at Moscow Zoo on May 7, 2000, and arrived at the zoo on August 3, 2001, along with a female named Moro. She was named Lobo through a public naming contest.

Lobo had a gentle personality, but as the "alpha male," the most dominant male in the pack, he led the group.

Earlier this year, he suddenly lost his appetite and was hospitalized for treatment at an animal hospital, but sadly, he passed away today. (Incidentally, Moro, who came to the zoo with him, passed away about six months ago on August 12, 2013. You can read about that here.)

Lobo fathered five cubs with the female Moro in 2005, two in 2006, four in 2007, and four in 2008, making a significant contribution to the formation of the current wolf pack.

The death of the great father robot is truly regrettable.

Photo: Robo, taken on July 12, 2013

(February 23, 2014)