History
Announcement of the Passing of Lu the Hippo
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Lu, the beloved hippopotamus and cherished resident of Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.
Born at the San Diego Zoo on Jan. 26, 1960, Lu came to Homosassa Springs in 1964. A charismatic actor, he was a movie and television star with the Ivan Tors Animal Actors troupe and starred in popular films and television shows of the 1960s, including Daktari, Cowboy in Africa, the Art Linkletter Show and the Herb Albert Special. His Hollywood past added to his charm, but it was his calm presence and gentle personality that endeared him to generations of Floridians and visitors alike.
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. Children grew up visiting him, and many returned as adults with children of their own to say hello to the gentle giant. His legacy extends beyond his impressive lifespan — he represented the deep connection between people and the animals who inspire wonder, empathy and stewardship.
Lu is survived in spirit by the devoted park rangers who cared for him, the millions of visitors whose lives he touched and the wildlife community he helped anchor. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.
Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State park has been a tourist attraction since the early 1900s, when trains stopped to let passengers off to walk the short trail to the first-magnitude spring. The tracks ran alongside what is now Fishbowl Drive. While passengers enjoyed a view of Homosassa Spring and its myriad of fresh and saltwater fish, the train's crew were busy loading their freight of fish, crabs, cedar and spring water aboard the Mullet Train.
The 50-acre site and surrounding 100 acres was purchased in the 1940s and was operated as a small attraction. In 1964, the Norris Development Company bought the property and expanded it as Homosassa Springs "Nature's Own Attraction," with an emphasis on entertainment and with a variety of exotic animals and some native species. Ivan Tors Animal Actors housed their trained animals at Homosassa Springs Attraction for several years.
These animals were trained for television shows and movies. When they were not performing they were kept at Homosassa Springs. One of the most popular of these animals was Buck who was a stand-in for Gentle Ben in the famous television series.
Lu, a hippopotamus, was one of the Ivan Tors animals. After being declared an honorary citizen of the state of Florida by then Governor Lawton Chiles, he spent his life as a cultural bridge across generations. At the time of his passing in 2025, he was the oldest known hippopotamus in the world at age 65.
From 1978 until 1984, the land went through several changes in ownership. The Citrus County Commission purchased the attraction to protect it as an environmentally sensitive area until the state of Florida could purchase the property as a Florida State Park.
Modern thinking about captive wildlife has influenced how the park is now managed. Both visitor safety and animal welfare are of utmost importance at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.