Australasian African Lion Population

[Zoofan15]

I made a similar question in the giraffe thread, but what is the purity/subspecies (if there is any) for the Lions in Australia? I’m aware “African” is a name sometimes used for zoomix lions which can be deducted to be from the southern clade/subspecies (Krugeri, Massaica, Roosevelti, Beylenberghi and Vernayi) due to their characteristics, so is that the case here?

We previously maintained a number of purebred Krugeri lions via these lions:

1.0 Tonyi (1996) and 0.1 Kura (1998) produced 0.4 cubs in 2001.

1.0 Lazarus (2002) and 0.1 Kura (1998) produced 2.2 cubs in 2004.

1.0 Lazarus (2002) and 0.1 Amira (2001) produced 1.1 cubs in 2004.

Several of these cubs were matched with mates descended from tawny Mogo stock, who were not purebred Krugeri (their white lions were).

1.0 Lazarus (2002) and Maya (2011) produced 1.2 cubs in 2015 and 4.0 cubs in 2016.

Most European stock is mixed, including the two females we’ve received from Givskud Zoo (Nilo and Nairibi). They have many descendants and have both gone in to new pairings themselves; so going forward, the population will become increasingly mixed and indeed, the regional population is not managed at a subspecies level.

 

[Zoofan15]

Deaths

Orana Wildlife Park:

Kahn has died. He was the park’s eldest lion and the last surviving from Kiara’s first litter. His death takes the park’s lion population to seven lions held across two prides.

1.0 Kahn (31/12/2002) Toby x Kiara

Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary:

Jabu has died. Jabu was part of the wild pride and is survived by three full siblings; the rest of the park’s lions are either from the 2004 South African import or their first generation offspring.

0.1 Jabu (26/12/2002) Sampson x Shania

Both these facilities now hold elderly populations, so we can expect to see several deaths over the coming years.

 

[Jambo]

Brothers, Marjan and Sabi, at the National Zoo have recently celebrated their 20th Birthday.

Tombo (1996-2016) is believed to be the regional record holder for the oldest male lion, when he died aged 20 years and 7 months. Both of these brothers at the National Zoo are very close to breaking that record, and apparently are still going strong! We may very well have some new record holders next year.

 

[Zoofan15]

Brothers, Marjan and Sabi, at the National Zoo have recently celebrated their 20th Birthday.

Tombo (1996-2016) is believed to be the regional record holder for the oldest male lion, when he died aged 20 years and 7 months. Both of these brothers at the National Zoo are very close to breaking that record, and apparently are still going strong! We may very well have some new record holders next year.

I believe we may already have a new record breaker in Shumba, who was born at Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary and turns 21 years old in two days:

1.0 Shumba (07/06/2001) Sampson x Shania

He’s still alive and well at Kamo, though curiously they’ve changed his DOB to 2004 on their website from the previously listed 2001. This would be a mistake as he would have been born as the Lion Man series was in full swing and the South African born cubs were being imported, which doesn’t add up timeline wise (they showed him as an adult in the wild pride during those episodes).

I will contact Kamo to confirm.

 

[MRJ]

I made a similar question in the giraffe thread, but what is the purity/subspecies (if there is any) for the Lions in Australia? I’m aware “African” is a name sometimes used for zoomix lions which can be deducted to be from the southern clade/subspecies (Krugeri, Massaica, Roosevelti, Beylenberghi and Vernayi) due to their characteristics, so is that the case here?

There are currently only two recognized subspecies of lion:

P l leo, which include Asian, Barbary and West African lions,
P l melanochaita. which include South and East African lions.

 

[Zoofan15]

Longevity Records in Male Lions

Kamo have confirmed via this news article that Shumba is indeed the eldest male lion in the region and turns 21 tomorrow (born 07/06/2001): https://bigcats.co.nz/news/sumbas-birthday/

However, he’s not the record holder yet. This article notes that Alistair died at Perth Zoo at the age of 21: Perth Zoo welcomes new African lions

Alistair’s date of death isn’t given, but since he was born in January 1986 and he was deceased prior to when this article was written in April 2007, it’s safe to assume that Shumba will be the record holder by September if he’s still alive.

 

[Randomname0183]

There are currently only two recognized subspecies of lion:

P l leo, which include Asian, Barbary and West African lions,
P l melanochaita. which include South and East African lions.

Fair point, however this classing of Lion subspecies is hotly debated by many, so some may prefer to use the older classification.

 

[MRJ]

Fair point, however this classing of Lion subspecies is hotly debated by many, so some may prefer to use the older classification.

That's fine, people can do that if they want. However zoos, government and conservation organizations will use the latest science. But it is all moot, in that the Australian lion population will never be used for reintroduction so the priority would be to retain a viable population for exhibition. In that mixing different lines to increase overall genetic diversity would be an advantage.

 

[Zoofan15]

Auckland Zoo - Lion Pride (1989)

I thought people would be interested in seeing this video, which shows Auckland Zoo’s African lion pride in August 1989. The lion pit they were housed in was built in 1922 and exhibited this species until 1998. There was a row of adjoining cages up the top, which were also viewable to the public.

Compare its bare, concrete appearance to the lushly planted Sumatran tiger exhibit (below). After the last lions left, this exhibit housed tigers between 1998 and 2018, when it was demolished. The vegetation really softened the concrete exterior.

The zoo had a pride of 2.4 lions in August 1989. Chilu was born 1976 and arrived at Auckland Zoo in 1977, along with Mzuri and another lioness named Samila. Chilu and Mzuri welcomed a litter of cubs in 1980 - which included Shaka (the dominant male in this video) and a female named Manta, who was the last surviving member of this pride. She was transferred to Wellington Zoo in March 1998.

It’s not stated where the founders of this pride came from. Orana Wildlife Park opened in 1976 with 18 lions and by the following year, probably had more lions than it knew what to do with. Several of the Australian zoos were also breeding around this time. - including Melbourne Zoo, who had a litter of three cubs born December 1976.

Sumatran Tiger Pit (1922-2018)

• Zoofan15
• 9 Jul 2020
• 1

 

[Astrobird]

Going by the 1 page in this thread, Robani at Mansfield zoo is actually the eldest male in the region... older than Shumba by 1 month

 

[Zoofan15]

Going by the 1 page in this thread, Robani at Mansfield zoo is actually the eldest male in the region... older than Shumba by 1 month

Eldest Male Lions

That sounds about right, good spotting.

The eldest males in the region are therefore as follows:

1.0 Rubani (24/05/2001) Fred x Sheba
1.0 Shumba (07/06/2001) Sampson x Shania
1.0 Marjan (04/06/2002) Kimba x Millie
1.0 Sabi (04/06/2002) Kimba x Millie

It appears Alistair at Perth Zoo lived until he was 21 years old (but not exceeding 21 years and 3 months); so by September, we can say with confidence we have a new record holder in Rubani.

It may interest people to know that Shumba, Marian and Millie are all from the same family line (Paradise Valley Park), which has also produced several lionesses who lived into their 20’s. Shania’s twin brother (Jake) was the sire of Millie.

 

[Steve Robinson]

Eldest Male Lions

That sounds about right, good spotting.

The eldest males in the region are therefore as follows:

1.0 Rubani (24/05/2001) Fred x Sheba
1.0 Shumba (07/06/2001) Sampson x Shania
1.0 Marjan (04/06/2002) Kimba x Millie
1.0 Sabi (04/06/2002) Kimba x Millie

It appears Alistair at Perth Zoo lived until he was 21 years old (but not exceeding 21 years and 3 months); so by September, we can say with confidence we have a new record holder in Rubani.

It may interest people to know that Shumba, Marian and Millie are all from the same family line (Paradise Valley Park), which has also produced several lionesses who lived into their 20’s. Shania’s twin brother (Jake) was the sire of Millie.

It may also interest people to know that Robbie [now Robani] had a very shaky start in life.
He was born by Caesarian section and named after the vet who brought him into the world. He was born with Nuclear Cataracts and we were told he was therefore blind. This alleged blindness did not stop him scaling fences and escaping the yard to come in to the house!

By three months of age he started showing signs of a neurological condition [possibly as a result of toxoplasmosis] and was rushed from central Queensland to the University of Queensland where the treating veterinarian confidently declared that he wouldn't live for more than a year.

That he is still alive today is due to the expertise of my wife and the care that she lavished on him during his early life.

At eight months of age he had the cataracts removed from his eyes by an incredible animal eye specialist in Brisbane - Dr Mike Bernais. With no replacement lenses available to fit a lion, he could now see but had no ability to change his focus, so no depth perception.

His neurological problem increased greatly when he was under stress. For example - if we left him with other carers for more than a day or so it would increase enormously and only be alleviated by our return and large doses of cortisone. We didn't have a social life for 3 years or so.

Thankfully, Robbie's health gradually improved to the point where, at 10 years of age, he sired [with Irene] his first cub - who now lives at Zoodoo in Tasmania. In late 2011 he sired the three tawny females currently at DDZ. Delilah is their mother and she and Robbie became inseparable.

Delilah eventually started creating issues at DDZ which could be the subject of a whole new thread. Suffice it to say here, the difficult decision was made to rehome her. To separate her and Robbie would have been unimaginable so the pair of them went to live at Mansfield.

Although this was [and still is] a huge loss to our family, we are happy that Robbie's age is a testament to the care that Bronwen and Dave have given them at Mansfield.

 

[Zoofan15]

It may also interest people to know that Robbie [now Robani] had a very shaky start in life.
He was born by Caesarian section and named after the vet who brought him into the world. He was born with Nuclear Cataracts and we were told he was therefore blind. This alleged blindness did not stop him scaling fences and escaping the yard to come in to the house!

By three months of age he started showing signs of a neurological condition [possibly as a result of toxoplasmosis] and was rushed from central Queensland to the University of Queensland where the treating veterinarian confidently declared that he wouldn't live for more than a year.

That he is still alive today is due to the expertise of my wife and the care that she lavished on him during his early life.

At eight months of age he had the cataracts removed from his eyes by an incredible animal eye specialist in Brisbane - Dr Mike Bernais. With no replacement lenses available to fit a lion, he could now see but had no ability to change his focus, so no depth perception.

His neurological problem increased greatly when he was under stress. For example - if we left him with other carers for more than a day or so it would increase enormously and only be alleviated by our return and large doses of cortisone. We didn't have a social life for 3 years or so.

Thankfully, Robbie's health gradually improved to the point where, at 10 years of age, he sired [with Irene] his first cub - who now lives at Zoodoo in Tasmania. In late 2011 he sired the three tawny females currently at DDZ. Delilah is their mother and she and Robbie became inseparable.

Delilah eventually started creating issues at DDZ which could be the subject of a whole new thread. Suffice it to say here, the difficult decision was made to rehome her. To separate her and Robbie would have been unimaginable so the pair of them went to live at Mansfield.

Although this was [and still is] a huge loss to our family, we are happy that Robbie's age is a testament to the care that Bronwen and Dave have given them at Mansfield.

Thanks for sharing @Steve Robinson. It sounds like he received care during his early years beyond what some facilities would give their lions - and it’s testament to that he’s lived a long life and is now the eldest male lion in the region.

Hopefully in the future, we’ll hear news of one of his daughters producing cubs with your new male.

 

[Astrobird]

It may also interest people to know that Robbie [now Robani] had a very shaky start in life.
He was born by Caesarian section and named after the vet who brought him into the world. He was born with Nuclear Cataracts and we were told he was therefore blind. This alleged blindness did not stop him scaling fences and escaping the yard to come in to the house!

By three months of age he started showing signs of a neurological condition [possibly as a result of toxoplasmosis] and was rushed from central Queensland to the University of Queensland where the treating veterinarian confidently declared that he wouldn't live for more than a year.

That he is still alive today is due to the expertise of my wife and the care that she lavished on him during his early life.

At eight months of age he had the cataracts removed from his eyes by an incredible animal eye specialist in Brisbane - Dr Mike Bernais. With no replacement lenses available to fit a lion, he could now see but had no ability to change his focus, so no depth perception.

His neurological problem increased greatly when he was under stress. For example - if we left him with other carers for more than a day or so it would increase enormously and only be alleviated by our return and large doses of cortisone. We didn't have a social life for 3 years or so.

Thankfully, Robbie's health gradually improved to the point where, at 10 years of age, he sired [with Irene] his first cub - who now lives at Zoodoo in Tasmania. In late 2011 he sired the three tawny females currently at DDZ. Delilah is their mother and she and Robbie became inseparable.

Delilah eventually started creating issues at DDZ which could be the subject of a whole new thread. Suffice it to say here, the difficult decision was made to rehome her. To separate her and Robbie would have been unimaginable so the pair of them went to live at Mansfield.

Although this was [and still is] a huge loss to our family, we are happy that Robbie's age is a testament to the care that Bronwen and Dave have given them at Mansfield.

This is exactly the kind of info/stories i like to hear about the individual animals in our zoos - and im sure you would have alot of them @Steve Robinson please feel free to share more! Sounds like you have another to tell about Delilah....

 

[Zorro]

This is exactly the kind of info/stories i like to hear about the individual animals in our zoos - and im sure you would have alot of them @Steve Robinson please feel free to share more! Sounds like you have another to tell about Delilah....

I agree the background stories are fascinating behind many captive animals but rarely ever heard about, I am sure @Steve Robinson could easily write a couple of books about them

 

[Zoofan15]

This is exactly the kind of info/stories i like to hear about the individual animals in our zoos - and im sure you would have alot of them @Steve Robinson please feel free to share more! Sounds like you have another to tell about Delilah....

I agree the background stories are fascinating behind many captive animals but rarely ever heard about, I am sure @Steve Robinson could easily write a couple of books about them

I fully agree. As someone who enjoys finding data on the species I enjoy researching, I'm often able to make reasonable assumptions on events from the data, but hearing stories from the people who worked with these animals is the best way to get an understanding on a level thats not always possible from data alone

 

[Zoofan15]

Auckland Zoo Lion History (1980-1998)

I’ve done some additional research and the last surviving litter born in the old lion pit was born September 1980 to Chilu and Mzuri. The litter consisted of 2.2 cubs:

1.0 Mzilikazi (Sept 1980) - died at Auckland Zoo 12/09/1987
1.0 Shaka (Sept 1980) - died at Auckland Zoo 11/05/1996
0.1 Umjanji (Sept 1980) - died at Auckland Zoo 09/01/1997
0.1 Mantatusi (Sept 1980) - sent to Wellington Zoo 10/03/1998

A further litter of four cubs was born in 1985, but did not survive.

By 1989, the pride consisted of 2.4 lions (Chilu, Mzuri, Samila, Shaka, Umjanji and Mantatusi) as shown in the video in Post #109.

By October 1996, the pride had been reduced to 0.2 (Umjanji and Mantatusi) and the zoo received 1.2 lions from Paradise Valley Springs:

1.0 Sam (Feb 1988) - sent to Wellington Zoo 10/03/1998
0.1 Jade (Feb 1990) - sent to Franklin Zoo 1997/1998
0.1 Ruby (July 1992) - sent to Franklin Zoo 1997/1998

Records are unclear in what combinations these lions were housed - but it’s reasonable to assume Sam was integrated with Auckland’s lionesses (he was transferred to Wellington as a pair with Mantatusi); while Jade and Ruby remained in a pair that was transferred to Franklin Zoo in 1997/1998.

It would have been difficult to integrate two unrelated pairs of lionesses and the lion exhibit was capable of holding two prides - with one in the pit/outdoor arena; and the other held in the cages up top. I’m open to correction here if anybody visited Auckland Zoo in the late 90’s and distinctly remembers seeing a pride of more than two lionesses.

I will cover more recent holdings (late 90’s to present) in a seperate post.
fghg

 

[Jambo]

Auckland Zoo Lion History (1980-1998)

I’ve done some additional research and the last surviving litter born in the old lion pit was born September 1980 to Chilu and Mzuri. The litter consisted of 2.2 cubs:

1.0 Mzilikazi (Sept 1980) - died at Auckland Zoo 12/09/1987
1.0 Shaka (Sept 1980) - died at Auckland Zoo 11/05/1996
0.1 Umjanji (Sept 1980) - died at Auckland Zoo 09/01/1997
0.1 Mantatusi (Sept 1980) - sent to Wellington Zoo 10/03/1998

A further litter of four cubs was born in 1985, but did not survive.

By 1989, the pride consisted of 2.4 lions (Chilu, Mzuri, Samila, Shaka, Umjanji and Mantatusi) as shown in the video in Post #109.

By October 1996, the pride had been reduced to 0.2 (Umjanji and Mantatusi) and the zoo received 1.2 lions from Paradise Valley Springs:

1.0 Sam (Feb 1988) - sent to Wellington Zoo 10/03/1998
0.1 Jade (Feb 1990) - sent to Franklin Zoo 1997/1998
0.1 Ruby (July 1992) - sent to Franklin Zoo 1997/1998

Records are unclear in what combinations these lions were housed - but it’s reasonable to assume Sam was integrated with Auckland’s lionesses (he was transferred to Wellington as a pair with Mantatusi); while Jade and Ruby remained in a pair that was transferred to Franklin Zoo in 1997/1998.

It would have been difficult to integrate two unrelated pairs of lionesses and the lion exhibit was capable of holding two prides - with one in the pit/outdoor arena; and the other held in the cages up top. I’m open to correction here if anybody visited Auckland Zoo in the late 90’s and distinctly remembers seeing a pride of more than two lionesses.

I will cover more recent holdings (late 90’s to present) in a seperate post.
fghg

Great research!

Auckland had one of the most successful breeding groups of lions back in the day, and it would’ve been quite a sight to see six plus lions back then.

I do remember reading something about Jade and Ruby being the last lionesses held in the former Lion, then Tiger pit; so it’s reasonable to assume Sam was grouped with the two Auckland girls. If they were the last inhibatants of that enclosure, they would’ve likely been sent to Franklin Park in late 1998; as Sam and Mantatusi were sent earlier that year.

Do you have any idea what came of Sam and Mantatusi at Wellington and Ruby and Jade at Franklin Park?

 

[Zoofan15]

Great research!

Auckland had one of the most successful breeding groups of lions back in the day, and it would’ve been quite a sight to see six plus lions back then.

I do remember reading something about Jade and Ruby being the last lionesses held in the former Lion, then Tiger pit; so it’s reasonable to assume Sam was grouped with the two Auckland girls. If they were the last inhibatants of that enclosure, they would’ve likely been sent to Franklin Park in late 1998; as Sam and Mantatusi were sent earlier that year.

Do you have any idea what came of Sam and Mantatusi at Wellington and Ruby and Jade at Franklin Park?

The pride of 3.4 lions may well have been the largest cohesive pride Auckland Zoo ever held. The unexpected introduction of two prides of four in the 1960’s was well documented in the zoo’s history book, but given the previous fights and feuds that ensured between these prides, I doubt this was a long term arrangement.

Something else I learnt was that Tonyi and Tombo arrived in December 1997, which was a surprise. I assumed they arrived in 1998 once the others had left. Presumably they were held off display in the new Lion Hill exhibit (for quarantine reasons if nothing else).

I’m going to cover Wellington’s lion history in a seperate post, which I will get up shortly but both Sam and Manta lived out their lives there before dying at very respectable ages. Ruby died at Franklin Zoo in 2012; Jade was still alive in 2009, but was deceased by the time Ruby passed. There was talk of trying to integrate them with 1.2 elderly retired circus lions in 2009, though I don’t know if that was ever achieved.

 

[Zoofan15]

Wellington Zoo Lion History

History:

Wellington Zoo imported a male lion named Rusty in August 1977. He was born that same year at Bullens. He died at Wellington Zoo in November 1997. Given he would have been at least three months old upon import, this means he was at least 20.5 years old upon his death and one of the longest lived male lions in the region to date.

Mara was transferred to Wellington Zoo in December 1992. She was born at Orana Willdife Park 17/09/1987 in a litter of four female lion cubs. Mara died at Wellington Zoo 10/11/2001 in a tragic incident. Four of the zoo’s big cats (Sumatran tigers - Jambi and Cantik; and lionesses - Manta and Mara) were fed meat supplied by a dog food company that was laced with the euthanasia drug pentabarbitone. Mara and Jambi died; while Manta and Cantik survived.

Mantatusi (Manta) was transferred from Auckland Zoo 10/03/1998, where she had been born in September 1980. Manta died at Wellington Zoo February 2002. I believe she’s the zoo’s longest lived lion on record.

Sam was transferred from Auckland Zoo 10/03/1998. He was born in February 1988 at Paradise Valley Springs and died at Wellington Zoo in August 2006.

Three lionesses were transferred from Auckland Zoo in 2002. Djane, Djembe and Zhara were born at Auckland Zoo 20/08/2001. Djembe died 30/07/2019; Djane and Zhara died 08/04/2021.

Two male lions were transferred from Auckland Zoo in December 2004. Zulu was born 04/03/2004 and Malik was born 18/04/2004. They were loaned to Orana Wildlife Park from 08/03/2009 until December 2010 and then transferred back to Auckland Zoo 16/08/2018.

Two male lions were imported from Copenhagen Zoo 26/11/2021. Jelani and Sadiki were born March/April 2020.

Housing Arrangements:

Rusty and Mara were likely kept as a pair following the arrival of the then five year old Mara in 1992. I assume Rusty was housed with at least one lioness prior to Mara’s arrival (as opposed to living alone for 15 years), but have no details regarding this.

Sam and Manta arrived following Rusty’s death and were kept together up until Manta’s death in 2002. It’s not specified if Mara was integrated with them prior to her death in 2001. I would guess not as a news article regarding Mara’s death refers to Manta as “Sam’s mate” as opposed to “Sam’s other mate” or “Sam’s remaining mate” and unrelated lionesses would be difficult to integrate.

Following Manta’s death, three young lionesses were transferred from Auckland Zoo. They were housed with Sam until his death in 2006.

Zulu and Malik were housed separately from Sam and the females following their arrival in 2004. Following their return in 2010, there was plans to introduce them to the three females - beginning with the introduction of Malik and Djane in April 2011. They fought and an integrated pride was never achieved - with the males returned to Auckland Zoo in 2018.