Lucifer, or Lu, as his friends call him, is probably the most photographed resident of Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.

Weighing a chunky 6,000 pounds, the 41-year-old hippo has lived all but four years of his life at the park.

His life has been chronicled and documented in magazine and newspaper stories for years.

Lu may eventually die of old age at the park, but that could be more than a decade from now.

Wild hippos in Africa usually die by the time they reach their 40th birthday, but domestic hippos live longer. And Lu is in good shape, other than a touch of arthritis.

"If he follows in his mom's footsteps, he will live a long life," park spokeswoman Susan Dougherty said.

Lu was born Jan. 26, 1960, at the San Diego Zoo. He weighed 90 pounds at birth.

His mom, Rube, lived to be 52, and his dad, Lotus, was 45 when he died. Both parents died in 1988.

Lu was part of Ivan Tors Animal Actors troupe until he reached age 4.

Some of Lu's credits include the movies "Daktari" and "Cowboy in Africa," and television specials like the "Jack Linkletter Show" and "Herb Albert Show."

Homosassa State Wildlife Park was privately owned when Lu was on the silver screen, and like other animals in the troupe, he spent his winters at the park.

When the county-owned park was purchased by the state on Jan. 1, 1989, Lu stayed as one of the exhibits.

The late Gov. Lawton Chiles declared Lu an honorary citizen of Florida on May 5, 1992, making him a Florida native. The declaration spared Lu from losing his home at the park.

Being a hippo, Lu is an exotic species, and state parks don't allow exotics. The state had planned to move Lu out of the park.

When the Chronicle found out about those plans, it championed Lu's cause and ignited a letter writing campaign that led to the governor's pardon.