Welcome to the Shoals - University of North Alabama

Live Lion Tradition Continues

See Leo III & Una on their live webcam -- http://lioncam.una.edu

UNA once again boasts the only live Lion mascot in the country living on campus. On July 22, 1974, former UNA president Dr. Robert M. Guillot brought a 35-pound lion cub to the campus and Leo spent the next 14 years "roaring" the school to victory. The original Leo died on Jan. 20, 1988, and a great outpouring of support from the Shoals community resulted in Leo II being brought to UNA in July of 1988. Leo II lived in the compound that once housed the original Leo and grew to a weight of more than 600 pounds at eleven years of age. In 1997, Leo II was selected as the nation's "Second Best Mascot" by Sports Illustrated. He died in February of 2000. Leo III and Una, born on November 18, 2002, now reside on the campus in the 12,764 square-foot George H. Carroll Lion Habitat.


Leo III	Una

Leo II

The Lion has been the official mascot of athletic teams fielded by the University of North Alabama for more than 40 years. And beginning in 1974, then UNA President Dr. Robert M. Guillot established a new tradition by making the school the only one in the country to have a live lion mascot living on campus. Leo, a 35-pound cub at the time, was acquired by Dr. Guillot on July 22 of that year and spent the next 14 years "roaring" UNA on to victory. Growing to a 540-pound supporter of the university, Leo lived in the center of the UNA campus as a majestic symbol of a proud university. But on January 20, 1988, Leo died, leaving a void at the school. In memory of the impact Leo had at UNA and on the community as a whole, a bronze monument was placed near the compound that served as his home for 14 years.

A great out-pouring of support from businesses and individuals in the Shoals area followed and resulted in Leo II being brought to UNA to take his place as "King of Lion Country." Leo II, an orphaned lion cub, came to UNA in July of 1988 from a Texas ranch after his mother died giving birth. Now living in the renovated compound that once housed Leo, Leo II was been hand-raised from birth and has grown to a weight of 600-pounds by his tenth birthday. Leo II celebrated his birthday in April with a party that became an area-wide tradition with the original Leo. Leo II died in February of 2000. UNA's other mascot, a student who dons a lion costume to cheer the Lions and entertain the crowd, also represents the school at athletic games and other university functions. Tryouts are held each year and the identity of the student is kept secret for as long as possible.

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