A big cat has been having a roaring time on his return to a Black Country zoo 12 years on from being born there.
Handsome 12-year-old male lion, Jetpur, who has been nicknamed Jet for short, returned to Dudley Zoo in October.
Section
leader, Jay Haywood, said: “We are getting to know his character more
and more every day and we’ve started calling him Jet for short.
“He has been getting on very well with the girls Asha and Kyra and they have been mating which is wonderful.
“Jet
has really got to grips with his Dudley routine now and knows when it’s
feeding time and when to come inside. He is very laid back but stubborn
as well and does what he wants to do. He’s not at all the same
character as his father Max, who could be quite feisty. Jet is very
relaxed and is right at home here.”
And Jet was taking things easy throughout the festive season’s special events.
Jetpur
was one of triplets born at the zoo to mother Gir and dad Max on July 6
2003 and moved to Mulhouse Zoo, in France, on June 16 2005.
He
left to form a breeding pair with lioness Sita in France and together
they have produced a total of 10 cubs as part of an international
breeding programme. He has made a roaring return to the Black Country
lifestyle – joining nine-year-old females Kyra and Asha.
It is now hoped that Jetpur will continue to breed.
Asiatic
lions are smaller and lighter than their African counterparts and have a
shaggier coat with a distinctive fold of skin that runs along the
belly.
They mainly live in prides – ranging from
having two adult females, with the largest having five. It comes as
three enclosures at the zoo are in line for a revamp costing £200,000 to
bring visitors even closer to the animals.
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