The Asiatic lion news archive - 2007

Stories relating to the Asiatic lion and updates on the captive breeding programme from 2007.

DATELINE: February 26, 2007
Opening of the new outdoor lion enclosure at Zurich Zoo

As of March 29, 2007 - the lions will be able to discover their new outdoor enclosure.

The new lion enclosure is an attractive habitat for the lions as well as being an interesting possibility for visitors to observe the animals. Contrary to its African relative, the Indian lion lives in wooded areas. Different substrates such as earth, sand, pebbles, rocks, and foliage as well as trees and shrubs are waiting to be discovered by the animals. Lying spaces at different heights and for different weather conditions have been integrated into the enclosure as well. The back of the enclosure, not directly visible to visitors, is equipped with separation possibilities. All parts of the enclosure are connected in order to ensure optimal animal husbandry. A complex feeding system will challenge the lions in their hunt for prey: Irregular feeding hours, feed placed in boxes that can only be accessed at certain times, feed strung from trees, hidden feed portions as well as alternating large and small rations are all part of this system. Moreover, new stimuli will be placed in the enclosure continuously, i.e. in form of the scents of other animals (e.g. excrements, branches from other enclosures), herbs, spices, and essences (e.g. perfumes, pines treated with essential oils) or the traces of large chunks of feed that were dragged into the enclosure.

An information center on the history of the species

Adjacent to the new lion enclosure at Zurich Zoo, visitors will find a 120 m2 large information center. The exhibition "Man and Lion - A relationship between Fear and Admiration" illustrates the relationship between lions and human beings, the veneration of the lion, contempt for it and the threat of its extinction. The main emphasis of the exhibition is placed on replica of 30,000-year old objects created by the cave dwellers of Hohlenstein-Stadel, the original gold ring of an Ashanti King from Ghana, and a model landscape of the Gir Forest in India.

Zurich Zoo's new lion enclosure and information center can be visited during the zoo's official opening hours. The new outdoor lion enclosure shall be opened to the public on March 29, 2007.

Visit Zurich Zoo website here.