Barbary lion DNA testing
- Thread starter J.simpkin
- Start date
There's still a few people who refuse to accept the inevitable; that the taxa is dead, and has been for a long time. But the number is thankfully dwindling.
It appears that that is increasingly a fallacy too.
TheOnlineZoo
Well-Known Member
Does anyone know any details about the two supposed Barbary Lions at The Texas Zoo in Victoria, Texas? The zoo claims they are Barbaries, but all of the information I have been able to find quotes the zoo as a source.
There are certainly lions with Barbary blood around, insofar as much as back in the bad old days everything was being cross-bred with everything else as far as lions went, and Barbary lions were in that mix - but this was so long ago that any Barbary blood now is statistically insignificant.
It's a bit like people putting on airs of superiority because they are descended from Charlemagne, ignoring the fact that he lived so long ago that pretty much EVERYONE in Europe is!
They are more or less as much of a Barbary Lion as I am
just like all the other "Barbary" lions around!
Because it's more prestigious sounding than admitting they have mongrel Lions!
Incidentally, we've been patient with you but I fear this thread counts as spam, considering the fact you asked these very questions, and received these very answers, only 3 months ago in *another* thread of your creation!
http://www.zoochat.com/2/zoos-still-have-pure-barbary-lions-321254/
Don't go creating another thread asking about Bengal tigers
Incidentally, we've been patient with you but I fear this thread counts as spam, considering the fact you asked these very questions, and received these very answers, only 3 months ago in *another* thread of your creation!
http://www.zoochat.com/2/zoos-still-have-pure-barbary-lions-321254/
Don't go creating another thread asking about Bengal tigers
Asking questions = Good, indeed encouraged.
Creating an almost identical thread to ask the same questions only three months after we answered them the last time = Unnecessary.
And our patience is a good thing
you're new to this site and still learning, hence why both myself and Pertinax have answered your questions again. There are many users on here - myself probably included - who have come a long way since joining having been helped by existing members, it's only fair I extend you the same courtesy.
Creating an almost identical thread to ask the same questions only three months after we answered them the last time = Unnecessary.
And our patience is a good thing
you're new to this site and still learning, hence why both myself and Pertinax have answered your questions again. There are many users on here - myself probably included - who have come a long way since joining having been helped by existing members, it's only fair I extend you the same courtesy.
One the subject of lions (and please forgive me if you've patient with me and I've asked this before ) but are zoos making a major effort to house lions of different subspecies? For example, I understand that the San Diego Zoo has a Tsavo lioness, are there other zoos specializing in this subspecies or any other, or are all lions in the US "mutts?"
) but are zoos making a major effort to house lions of different subspecies? For example, I understand that the San Diego Zoo has a Tsavo lioness, are there other zoos specializing in this subspecies or any other, or are all lions in the US "mutts?"
Based as I am in the UK, my information on the matter is somewhat out-of-date, having been obtained prior to ISIS closing to the public.
As such, bear in mind the following is current up to February 2012, only applies to ISIS collections, and may have changed.
Panthera leo (no ssp status) was held by 70 collections, with a total of 67,103,1 individuals held.
Recent hybrid Panthera leo was held by 5 collections, with a total of 3,3,2 individuals held.
Congo Lion -Panthera leo azandica- was held by a single collection - Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo - with 0,1 held.
Nowhere in the USA held Katanga Lion (Panthera leo bleyenberghi) or Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica)
Transvaal Lion (Panthera leo krugeri) was held by 61 collections with a total of 90,89,13 individuals held.
Masai Lion (Panthera leo massaica) was held by 4 collections with a total of 4,6,14 individuals held. This taxon is synonymous with P. l. nubica, and contains the Tsavo lion.
Denver Zoo held 1,1,2
Detroit Zoo held 0,1,0
International Animal Exchange held 1,1,0
San Diego Zoo held 2,3,12
As such, bear in mind the following is current up to February 2012, only applies to ISIS collections, and may have changed.
Panthera leo (no ssp status) was held by 70 collections, with a total of 67,103,1 individuals held.
Recent hybrid Panthera leo was held by 5 collections, with a total of 3,3,2 individuals held.
Congo Lion -Panthera leo azandica- was held by a single collection - Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo - with 0,1 held.
Nowhere in the USA held Katanga Lion (Panthera leo bleyenberghi) or Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica)
Transvaal Lion (Panthera leo krugeri) was held by 61 collections with a total of 90,89,13 individuals held.
Masai Lion (Panthera leo massaica) was held by 4 collections with a total of 4,6,14 individuals held. This taxon is synonymous with P. l. nubica, and contains the Tsavo lion.
Denver Zoo held 1,1,2
Detroit Zoo held 0,1,0
International Animal Exchange held 1,1,0
San Diego Zoo held 2,3,12
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
As was quoted by a member of staff at Belfast who will remain nameless,"It makes a very good story for the general public"
One the subject of lions (and please forgive me if you've patient with me and I've asked this before
The lioness at the San Diego Zoo is referred to as a Transvaal Lion, not a Tsavo Lion, and that makes her Panthera leo krugeri which is the subspecies the Lion SSP is working with. Meaning, that generic lions in the US are not being bred (in the AZA at least) and AZA zoos are focusing on breeding the krugeri subspecies.
Looks like they had both as of February 2012 - the 2,3,12 Masai as noted above, and 1,2,0 Transvaal.
It does seem like a rather implausible figure; the incidence of ghost individuals is another reason my ISIS information is best taken with a caveat or two.