Port Lympne Wild Animal Park Port Lympne Wild Animal Park News 2022
- Thread starter Embu
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Timbou the Bachelor Silverback Western Lowland gorilla passed away on November 15th 2021. He was one of the males kept on his own at the Pavillion Enclosure.
Sad news announced in last hour that Adras the lion and father to all the cubs, has sadly died after a "period of declining health that sadly deteriorated and didn't recover after recently having major surgery".
What devastating news he looked magnificent from pictures I've seen.
What devastating news he looked magnificent from pictures I've seen.
I remember when 'Adras' -formerly Milo, was born there, along with his brother Moonlight and a sister. Seems only yesterday and yet now he has died of age-related issues. He was the last litter I think that were billed as 'Barbary' Lions, as he was later paired and has bred several litters with a generic female, so it seems likely they may have dropped any plan to continue with the 'Barbary' tag? I never figured why they changed their names from Milo and Lily(?) to Adras and Oudrika either.
I remember in Howletts 2019, I think the lion siblings there were also signed as 'Barbary' lions..
Lafone
Well-Known Member
They still flag them on the website as Barbary lions and index them in that way, site wise.
Barbary Lions
Barbary Lions
The Hedgehog
Well-Known Member
@Pertinax was Milo (Adras) related to Kibir the Barbery Lion who was sent to Longleat Safari Park?
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Is it correct that there isn’t a true genetic link to the now extinct ‘Barbary’ lion in the remaining lions in captivity so they can’t really be called ‘Barbary’ in sub species terms?
As they can inherit a look from a narrow breeding line does that mean places like port lympe still call them Barbary lions as an attraction draw vs it being true scientifically.
The lions do have a strong and different appearance (stunning to look at) and they can continue to breed that in as long as any of them remain I suppose as there is a genetic appearance although it is not ‘Barbary’ in the true sense. But it seems that to continuing to label them as something they are not would have to end after a while as the distinctive accepted look would just get more diluted by cross breeding.
As they can inherit a look from a narrow breeding line does that mean places like port lympe still call them Barbary lions as an attraction draw vs it being true scientifically.
The lions do have a strong and different appearance (stunning to look at) and they can continue to breed that in as long as any of them remain I suppose as there is a genetic appearance although it is not ‘Barbary’ in the true sense. But it seems that to continuing to label them as something they are not would have to end after a while as the distinctive accepted look would just get more diluted by cross breeding.
From memory I believe he was Kabir's grandson but am not 100% certain.
A complicated issue. There have been many discussions on this site about this in the past. You might like to check some out to give you some more background. But yes, overall that is the case. None of them are pure, some may contain a % of Barbary genes but none can be proved to be pure.
That’s correct. Kabir (1994) is the sire of Saffiya (1999), who is the mother of Milo (15/08/2005).
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Thank you.
Was just reading a few site links it is indeed a very interesting topic.
To be honest I’d thought it was a genetic pool that was valid but diminishing but essentially it looks like it is gone but the genetic appearance holds out. Good learning and something I hadn’t understood much about before joining the site as the prevailing information suggests the line continues (I haven’t done any proper research as never thought it was in question so just had a ‘zoo visitor reads stuff’ view to this point).
There’s a tipping point when there are no more lions from a sufficiently varied genetic pool to successfully breed from I guess. And looks like that was reached a while ago! True Extinction happening as we watch it. Sobering really.
I think there are still long term plans in Morocco for reintroduction of lions "Barbary" from the Rabat Zoo genetic line.
Reintroduction of Rabat Zoo ‘Barbary’ lions:
There’s an interesting article about it here (full article in link):
‘Barbary lion reintroduction in north Africa is possible but needs long-term plans’
There is now a studbook of all animals of known documented descent from the King of Morocco’s collection (which was kept as a royal collection until 1969 when moved to Rabat Zoo in Morocco). These animals (about 90 individuals) are now kept in zoos in Europe plus the Moroccan collection, which is in a modern zoo in Rabat.
Some existing large tracts of land in north Africa would be suitable for reintroduction, but considerable effort would be needed to restore sustainable levels of wild prey species (deer, boar, barbary sheep and gazelle), most of which are endangered species themselves.
Reintroduction is theoretically possible but would need a sensitive long-term plan and considerable prior political and community support. Reintroduction of a predator like lions would have to be part of purposeful, wider landscape restoration in the region.
Regarding the khari conversation that’s occurred on the whipsnade lion chat, that i shall try to stop spamming. There are two young lionesses at leipzig confirmed to be moving this year - destination not published. There are also two pairs of a similar age at bergers and Dierenpark. Would like to reiterate this is just speculation.
Would that mean Port Lympne now have three species of rhino?
So much for being "anti-captivity". What a pretentious bastard.