Asiatic Lions in the UK
- Thread starter JoeDK14
- Start date
According to zootierliste: Bristol, Cotswolds wildlife park,Chessington, Chester, Dudley, Edinburgh, London and Paignton although I believe Paignton switched to Newquay’s African lions.
Bristol is definitely 1.1
Thankyou
London has 1.1 (Bhanu & Arya)
Kamal is also the brother to London's Bhanu. They were imported to the UK from Canada at the same time.
They were born in Germany 13/05/2010 (Magdeburg Zoo) and were exported to Canada in 2012. They were then imported into the UK, arriving 24/02/2016. Kamal was sent to Chessington the following month. They were the second of their parents three litters.
I sometimes think if they had both stayed together at London Zoo, then they would have presented a more united/stronger front to the three females than the single Bhanu did, and maybe the upheavals and moves that later became necessary could have been avoided, as well as providing an impressive display with two maned males. But of course Chessington needed a male at the same time.
That also would have replicated the wild social behaviour of this species, where the males (usually 2-3) live seperately from the females and associate only for mating.
At lot of UK zoos seem to keep them in 1.1 pairs which seems to be more of a consequence of a lack of available animals rather than a conscious decision. It was a real thrill seeing a decent sized pride of these felids at the Singapore Zoo Night Safari - easily the most active lions I’ve seen in any zoo.
They could have replicated that too at London, with the new exhibit extension which would have allowed them to segregate or unite them together like that. I think zoos are rather short-sighted sometimes as to what could be possible display-wise. But I also appreciate the practicality of it all- supply and demand, e.g. in this case two zoos near each other each needed a new male. But it didn't turn out well for London.
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Lafone
Well-Known Member
I believe (just from being a regular visitor) that CWP have 2 asiatic lions at the moment (Rana and Kanha) and that none of the cubs are there any more with Kali and Sita having gone to Paignton to join the pride there after Arya the lioness moved to London in 2021.
The girls aren’t at Paighton the move was cancelled as the zoo will no longer house Asiatic lions from this year in order to cater for the three african lions that need rehoming from their sister zoo.
Paignton hav one male who will be moved shortly
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Lafone
Well-Known Member
Thanks - where did they go? They aren’t still at CWP. So guessing they went somewhere else?
I’m assuming Europe but i can’t find anything.
I think there are 3 at Fota 1:2, with their two litters having been relocated to france, poland and finland
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Lafone
Well-Known Member
Had a look too but also couldn’t see anything.
Now I might be being an idiot but I visit a good amount and spend a lot of time at the lion enclosure (cat fan, you can never have enough lion photos) and I’ve only now seen the male and one female out together all the time since post lockdown. When the cubs were there they were usually all out together. Or the two remaining female cubs would be together.
If they were still there I can’t figure where they are as I have had a couple of conversations with keepers about there being the 2 now (was asking about whether there were breeding plans etc with Khana now being a little bit older).
Don’t want to give false info however so if they are rotating them or something and I’ve mistaken one female for another then happy to be corrected! But there were all sorts of discussions and comments at the zoo when the last cubs ‘left’ so it is a bit odd. I guess lockdowns were all over that time too.
I’ve completed a world search (not literally of course) and found a bunch of Asian lions across the world called Sita, which doesn’t help - but none appear to be this Sita.
At this point, I’d guess a rotation of 1.1 and 0.2 in anticipation of the two younger females leaving is the most likely option, though they could have easily been kept in a pride of 1.3.