The Asiatic lion news archive - 1999

Stories relating to the Asiatic lion and updates on the captive breeding programme from 1999.

DATELINE : March 28th 1999
News from Parken Zoo, Sweden:

3rd of March 1999 lioness Sarla, born at Chester Zoo 1 Aug 1997 arrived in Parken Zoo, Eskilstuna, Sweden.

22nd March 1999 male lion Sam, born at Dudley Zoo 28th Feb 1998 arrived in Eskilstuna together with Lesley Lewis Sam´s "mother" and Derek Grove, animal curator who stayed for three days to help Sam adapt to his new environment.

Sarla and Sam are kept in adjacent rooms of 35m² each with a wire netting in between so they can see, hear and smell each other but not have physical contact.To start with they have a outside facility of 600m² where they stay one at a time for a few hours a day.

So far Sarla seems to be interested in Sam and Sam is at least not afraid of Sarla which could have happened as Sam has never seen another lion before.

When both lions behave in an even more friendly way towards each other they will be put together. And when they can spend the night in the same room without any risks for fighting, they will be moved to another and larger enclosure.

Thanks to Steffan Jonsson, Curator, Parken Zoo for this update.