Werribee Open Range Zoo Changes at Weribee Zoo! (lions)

argh we are going around in circles!!

you're missing the point. put aside the fact that there is just one female left for a moment and currently werribee manage their lions by keeping them in two single sex groups.

1) females
2) males (brothers)

so continuing on the current management strategy, if they breed again they will need to be prepared for the likely event of a least one male being born and, keeping in mind the intolerance of male lions to any other bar their siblings, will now need to maintain THREE separate groups.

1) the current adult males
2) the male cubs
3) the females

that is UNLESS they either....

a) find a home for surplus males
b) or choose to keep males with females and use contraception and change their management strategy.

if they choose to go with option b) they can either:

a)keep the breeding males with the females
b)keep the male cubs with the females.

however, and this is my point, whatever they do, be it find a home for any male cubs born, or keep males in with the females or even build a new exhibit (which you mention as a possibility), or even keep some males in off display facilities and rotate them... whatever it is they do - it will not have been made possible by the fact that there are now two less females. thats rather irrelevant. any of the above listed strategy's could have been implemented before the death of the females.

i can't spell it out any better for you than that.
 
I was under the impression that the male cubs would eventually put together with the current males. could be wrong.

I completely understand what you're saying, but I can't really say anything. Like I said, don't shoot the messenger. It's not a "maybe" thing. It's already started. (Getting males used to front enclosure)

Maybe the bigger issue was a restriction on the amount of lions they could house? Less lions means lifting their ban. Either way, once again, I'm just telling you how it is ;) And I don't think they'll be using a form of contraception.
 
You know what. I think the only way to get the real answer will be to speak to someone. I'll attempt to find out for sure soon. But no promises!
 
This is unfortunately news overall,
just wondering but in lion genetics is there a slight byist to males???

" Aren't the four males at Melbourne the brothers of the remaining females at Werribee. Would this make them around 10 years of age?"

I think Jarrah is their sister I'm not sure.
 
well I can confirm that I wasn't going crazy. Breeding will begin shortly. :) Anyone who visits the zoo after the holidays may notice only one lion on display.. ;) so fingers crossed!
 
neat thanks,

a new male came to werribee? I thought they just had two males Tonyi and Tombo.:confused:
 
oh I see.

from one episode of the old series zoo crew I think Tombo is the more dominant one but I'm unsure, usually in a wild pride both males are equal.
 
No :D I've seen the confirmed date. It's approaching quickly! I think most, if not all Lion tours at the Zoo have been canceled from now until the cubs! Also got some news about what they may do with cubs, but will hold off on that until it's confirmed. :) (but they WILL be keeping them afaik)
 
wow, I never really noticed them being another colour. I thought the only white lions in australia were at mogo zoo???
 
Aren`t the lions at Melbourne and Weribee pure animals from an african subspecies?

I am surprised that dealing with male offspring is considered as such a big problem - why don`t they just castrate them and keep them in the pack with the females? They`ll loose their mane and behave like females, no problems.
 
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