Very true, the end of an era. Amazing to think that Tiombe still has an older sister alive at Adelaide Zoo! That pride of 11 lions would have been an incredible sight.
Australasian African Lion Population
- Thread starter Zoofan15
- Start date
Very true, the end of an era. Amazing to think that Tiombe still has an older sister alive at Adelaide Zoo! That pride of 11 lions would have been an incredible sight.
It was amazing seeing Auckland Zoo’s pride at its height. It was the first time they’d had surviving cubs since 1980 (which was in the old lion pit); and the arrival of the two young males (Tonyi and Tombo); the two young females (Kura and Sheeka); and then the birth of their combined seven cubs was hugely exciting.
To see this carry over to retaining Amira; and then importing new breeding males (Lazarus and Ngala) to sire two further litters was equally exciting.
There was talk of further breeding in the years that followed and it would have been great had Ngala (an unrepresented founder) sired cubs.
Amani/Kutaza has reached an incredible age. It will be a sad day when she passes, but what a great life.
Tam Skylonobi
Active Member
May Queen Tiombe and Princess Zalika rest in peace.
Mansfield have three elderly male lions - one tawny; and two white:
Mansfield Zoo:
1.0 Rubani (24/05/2001) Fred x Sheba
1.0 Djuma (05/02/2007) Tim x Snow
1.0 Matimba (05/02/2007) Tim x Snow
I believe you’re referring to Shoalhaven breeding. In addition to an ageing pride of white lions, they have two young males imported from South Africa (Juda and Ariel). Last I heard, they intend to import a female for breeding.
I assume Mansfield will receive more non-breeding lions when their males pass, but who knows.
Tam Skylonobi
Active Member
I did not know that Tombo had an old name. This makes me wonder was this also the case with Tonyi?
Yes, their original names were:
Charmer (Tonyi)
Clover (Tombo)
They were a reference to their birthday of March 17 (St Patrick’s Day).
Interestingly, Kura (one of the lionesses that joined them) was her original name given in the US. I thought it coincidental given Kura means ‘school’ in Maori; and Kura played a valuable role in teaching the other lioness (Sheeka), who was a hand raised cub, how to be a lion. They were introduced as yearlings and Sheeka not only successfully integrated with the males, but reared a litter of triplets. Kura was protective of Sheeka upon their introduction to the males and while her focus quickly turned to her own litter (born three months prior to Sheeka’s), she was instrumental in demonstrating appropriate behaviour of a lioness in the company of males (when to show submission etc).
Tam Skylonobi
Active Member
This makes me wonder why zoos change the names of some lions although they are already unique for some of them. Other name changes include Amali to Yizi, Kutaza to Amani, and Zuri to Uzuri.
Others include Scarlett, who was born 1994 at Paradise Valley Springs and was renamed Shania by Zion/Kamo upon her arrival there; and Robbie, born 2001 at Darling Downs Zoo, who is also known as Rubani.
Lions recorded in ZIMS such as the Adelaide lions have their own unique identifier, so the names are partly a marketing/public engagement feature. I did however think Auckland Zoo were on the money with naming that litter though:
Amali - Hope
Amira - Princess
Kuchani - Go far
Kutaza - Cross one
Kutaza clearly inherited her mother’s fiery disposition and was the dominant lioness.
In the case of Djembe, Djane and Zhara, they were named by Wellington Zoo when they were transferred there. They’d been unnamed up to that point.
Osedax
Well-Known Member
And of course Kuchani did "go far"; across the dutch to Taronga!
Yes. I often thought she was identified as the most adventurous of the quartet since she was chosen to face the biggest adjustment. Amira, the sweet natured but clingy princess, remained at Auckland Zoo with her mother; Amali and Kutaza emigrated, but went together; while Kuchani went alone to a new zoo to start a family.
The Zoo mentioned there was no weak cub/straggler in the litter; but noted one cub was more cautious and the last to follow her sisters. Since they always listed them as Amali, Amira, Kuchani and Kutaza, I assumed it was Kutaza; but on hindsight, I believe it was Amira.
Curiously, Kura and Amira’s 2004 cubs inherited their respective parent’s personalities - Malik and Kibara were fiery like Kura; Zulu and Zalika were docile and submissive like Amira; Tiombe was confident and self assured like her father. Amari was the only cub of the six to transfer to another zoo alone; so while he died young, I would hazard a guess he was confident like his father.
Those names are also in alphabetical order too, so I'd assume they have nothing to do with the cubs personalities.
On the note of Kuchani, you are spot on. I remember watching a Taronga episode a while back on their Lions, and it was mentioned she's always had quite the adventurous personality. Another important factor was they didn't want a lioness to overtly dominant for Bruiser, who was only hand raised. Being a more curious natured female, she was therefore the best option compared to Amali and Kutaza of whom were both dominant natured.
Interestingly the introduction of Jambo and Kuchani took place in September 2002, when Kuchani was just 16 months old and pre-reproductive. It was obviously successful and around seven months later she conceived her first litter.
Introductions are usually delayed until the female is cycling/receptive, so the fact this was successful was testament to Jambo’s docile nature. I note an introduction was achieved successfully of the hand raised half siblings at Mogo (Phoenix and Maji) at similar ages.
1.0 Phoenix (23/12/2019) Baako x Chitwa
0.1 Maji (11/12/2020) Baako x Zuri
Amani (2001-2024) and Mujambi (2005-2024)
Some very sad news from Adelaide Zoo today that their elderly pair of lions have died.
Amani, formerly known as Kutaza, was born at Auckland Zoo and the last surviving offspring of her mother, Kura. This includes Kura’s second litter of four cubs born 2004.
Amani is survived in the region by her grandchildren, Mlinzi and Makena, who were born at Monarto Safari Park in 2013 to Amani’s daughter, Kiamba.
0.1 Amani (06/05/2001) Tonyi x Kura
1.0 Mujambi (26/03/2005) Lance x Narla
From socials:
Today is a sad day. It is with an extremely heavy heart that Adelaide Zoo announces the passing of African Lion pair female Amani (23) and male Mujambi (19). Both big cats are now at rest.
Over the weekend Mujambi’s suffered a medical episode, and despite the best care by our veterinary team, the difficult decision was made for him to be humanely euthanised. Amani was then put to sleep shortly after as the negative welfare and aspects of her life without Mujambi were determined to outweigh any positives of remaining alone.
Amani was the oldest lioness in Australia, recently turning 23. Amani’s keepers held a birthday party to mark her big day with members and volunteers turning up to watch her demolish enrichment items created by Adelaide Zoo’s BEEZA team. Our male lion, Mujambi, turned 19 in March and was a handsome lion with a beautiful mane, albeit thinning in his old age.
Some very sad news from Adelaide Zoo today that their elderly pair of lions have died.
Amani, formerly known as Kutaza, was born at Auckland Zoo and the last surviving offspring of her mother, Kura. This includes Kura’s second litter of four cubs born 2004.
Amani is survived in the region by her grandchildren, Mlinzi and Makena, who were born at Monarto Safari Park in 2013 to Amani’s daughter, Kiamba.
0.1 Amani (06/05/2001) Tonyi x Kura
1.0 Mujambi (26/03/2005) Lance x Narla
From socials:
Today is a sad day. It is with an extremely heavy heart that Adelaide Zoo announces the passing of African Lion pair female Amani (23) and male Mujambi (19). Both big cats are now at rest.
Over the weekend Mujambi’s suffered a medical episode, and despite the best care by our veterinary team, the difficult decision was made for him to be humanely euthanised. Amani was then put to sleep shortly after as the negative welfare and aspects of her life without Mujambi were determined to outweigh any positives of remaining alone.
Amani was the oldest lioness in Australia, recently turning 23. Amani’s keepers held a birthday party to mark her big day with members and volunteers turning up to watch her demolish enrichment items created by Adelaide Zoo’s BEEZA team. Our male lion, Mujambi, turned 19 in March and was a handsome lion with a beautiful mane, albeit thinning in his old age.
Kamo Willdife Sanctuary Groupings
In researching if Savannah was still alive today (I found a post from January celebrating her 23rd birthday; and no posts since then announcing her death), I came across this map from last year which conveniently lists the groupings of Kamo Wildlife Park’s 11 remaining lions.
The groupings are more in less in line with the TV show days:
Laduma, Amafu and Imvula were a breeding pride; with Imvula’s four cubs (two now deceased) hand-reared and never reintegrated with their parents.
Savannah lives alone after the deaths of Aslan and Narnia; while Shikira lives alone after the death of her mate, Gandor. Their 2.1 cubs used to live as a trio, but the two survivors (Abdullah and Cleo) now live seperate.
Source: Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary
Groupings:
0.1 Savannah (27/01/2001) Sampson x Shania
0.1 Shikira (23/02/2004) Imported 2004
1.0 Laduma (20/05/2004) Imported 2004
0.1 Amafu (20/05/2004) Imported 2004
0.1 Imvula (28/07/2004) Imported 2004
1.0 Abdullah (31/01/2006) Gandor x Shikira
0.1 Cleo (31/01/2006) Gandor x Shikira
1.0 Timba (11/12/2006) Laduma x Imvula
1.0 Themba (11/12/2006) Laduma x Imvula
1.0 Sabie (27/01/2007) Laduma x Amafu
1.0 Sibili (27/01/2007) Laduma x Amafu
In researching if Savannah was still alive today (I found a post from January celebrating her 23rd birthday; and no posts since then announcing her death), I came across this map from last year which conveniently lists the groupings of Kamo Wildlife Park’s 11 remaining lions.
The groupings are more in less in line with the TV show days:
Laduma, Amafu and Imvula were a breeding pride; with Imvula’s four cubs (two now deceased) hand-reared and never reintegrated with their parents.
Savannah lives alone after the deaths of Aslan and Narnia; while Shikira lives alone after the death of her mate, Gandor. Their 2.1 cubs used to live as a trio, but the two survivors (Abdullah and Cleo) now live seperate.
Source: Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary
Groupings:
0.1 Savannah (27/01/2001) Sampson x Shania
0.1 Shikira (23/02/2004) Imported 2004
1.0 Laduma (20/05/2004) Imported 2004
0.1 Amafu (20/05/2004) Imported 2004
0.1 Imvula (28/07/2004) Imported 2004
1.0 Abdullah (31/01/2006) Gandor x Shikira
0.1 Cleo (31/01/2006) Gandor x Shikira
1.0 Timba (11/12/2006) Laduma x Imvula
1.0 Themba (11/12/2006) Laduma x Imvula
1.0 Sabie (27/01/2007) Laduma x Amafu
1.0 Sibili (27/01/2007) Laduma x Amafu
Attachments
1.0 Caesar 07/08/2024 Mal/Sassy DDZ
Congrations to the DDZ and the new cub Caesar
Wow, that’s great news! I approve of the Roman Empire inspired name.
Given Sassy turned 13 years old last week, I was losing hope she’d ever breed.
At this point in time, Caesar is the only publicly reported lion birth in the region for 2024.
He was born by Caesa
He was born by Caesarian section.
Wow, that’s great news! I approve of the Roman Empire inspired name.
Given Sassy turned 13 years old last week, I was losing hope she’d ever breed.
At this point in time, Caesar is the only publicly reported lion birth in the region for 2024.
He was born by Caesarian section.
It is quite good word play for a name that will suit a male lions well.