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Posted: February 16, 2015
NEWQUAY Zoo now houses three lions for the first time, following the arrival of two new cats last week.
Male lion Boss and lioness Semira were brought in from Longleat Safari and Adventure Park and have been reunited with their sister Amahle.
Amahle arrived at the zoo from Longleat last year after male lion Samson’s companion Connie died in July at the age of 18.
But after Samson and Amahle failed to bond, Samson was successfully rehomed at Dartmoor Zoological Park in December.
When Boss was chosen as Amahle’s new male companion it was then discovered that he was living with his other sister, Semira, and zookeepers made the decision to reunite the cats as a family.
This is the first time Newquay Zoo has ever housed three lions, and the three have bonded well as a pride.
“Sisters Semira and Amahle have become inseparable,” animal collections manager John Meek said. “The three cats would be much happier back as a family unit, both for their health and happiness, and the decision was taken purely and solely for the lion’s welfare. It was a really emotional moment for all of us to see the family reunited and now they are all settled in, and relaxed. Further updates on their progress will follow over the coming months.”
It is thought that there are less than 30,000 African lions left in the wild. In India the cats are endangered, with less than 400 wild Asiatic lions roaming the Gir Forest National Park.
Male lion Boss and lioness Semira were brought in from Longleat Safari and Adventure Park and have been reunited with their sister Amahle.
Amahle arrived at the zoo from Longleat last year after male lion Samson’s companion Connie died in July at the age of 18.
But after Samson and Amahle failed to bond, Samson was successfully rehomed at Dartmoor Zoological Park in December.
When Boss was chosen as Amahle’s new male companion it was then discovered that he was living with his other sister, Semira, and zookeepers made the decision to reunite the cats as a family.
This is the first time Newquay Zoo has ever housed three lions, and the three have bonded well as a pride.
“Sisters Semira and Amahle have become inseparable,” animal collections manager John Meek said. “The three cats would be much happier back as a family unit, both for their health and happiness, and the decision was taken purely and solely for the lion’s welfare. It was a really emotional moment for all of us to see the family reunited and now they are all settled in, and relaxed. Further updates on their progress will follow over the coming months.”
It is thought that there are less than 30,000 African lions left in the wild. In India the cats are endangered, with less than 400 wild Asiatic lions roaming the Gir Forest National Park.
Read more: http://www.cornishguardian.co.uk/Newquay-Zoo-lions-time-arrival-siblings-Boss/story-26034279-detail/story.html#ixzz3T2utGwci
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