If these are still the original white lions they received years ago, I saw them as cubs on temporary loan to Lowry Park Zoo. There were two white females (these two I think) and one tawny male. For those familiar with Lowry Park, they were in what is now the clouded leopard exhibit (or was the last time I was there).
These white lions are actually quite young and we just received them last year. Nokonda, the last white lioness we had from the original group in 1996, passed away in 2011.
The white lions you are thinking of are Tandi and Kanya and their tawny sister Kowla. They were here in 1995 in what is now our hyena exhibit. They visited for the summer and then went to Europe. Where in Europe I cant remember. They were either full or half sisters of our next white lioness Nokonda who arrived in 1998. She was bred with our regular male Rowdy twice, resulting in 3 male cubs, Simba in 2000 and Lindy and Jerroh in 2001. Simba lives in Quebec and Lindy and Jerroh still live at the zoo but spend most of their time off exhibit. Last spring we imported these three white lions from South Africa. Fintan (male), Makali and Lemon (females) are just about two years old now and Fintans just starting to grow his mane. All three are white. Hope this clears things up for you.
Interesting that an AZA accredited zoo is still importing white lions (contrary to SSP recommendations). Or are they temporarily non-AZA due to the elephant fiasco?
If these are still the original white lions they received years ago, I saw them as cubs on temporary loan to Lowry Park Zoo. There were two white females (these two I think) and one tawny male. For those familiar with Lowry Park, they were in what is now the clouded leopard exhibit (or was the last time I was there).
I checked my slides and it looks like it was January 1997 when I saw them there. BTW the tawny one was definitely a male - his mane was starting to come in - not a female as someone else posted. I bought a commemorative t-shirt with a special design embroidered on the chest area and believe it or not I still have it. Here is a photo I just took.
I checked my slides and it looks like it was January 1997 when I saw them there. BTW the tawny one was definitely a male - his mane was starting to come in - not a female as someone else posted. I bought a commemorative t-shirt with a special design embroidered on the chest area and believe it or not I still have it. Here is a photo I just took.
Interesting that an AZA accredited zoo is still importing white lions (contrary to SSP recommendations). Or are they temporarily non-AZA due to the elephant fiasco?
The Toronto Zoo hasn't been AZA accredited for about a year now. There is a thread about it in the Toronto Zoo forums. I can't remember if the zoo got the white lions before or after it lost its accreditation.
