Franklin Zoo (Closed) Franklin Zoo lions

Chlidonias

Chlidonias

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Lionesses love their bed - New Zealand, world, sport, business & entertainment news on Stuff.co.nz
Four lionesses at Franklin Zoo and Wildlife Sanctuary have taken their rightful place on a new bed that’s fit for a queen.
Thanks to the generosity of Friends of Hamilton Zoo and some innovative building design, volunteers have replaced the old bed used by Jade, Ruby, Gypsy and Queenie with a $1500 custom-built model.
As well as lions, the non-profit zoo in Tuakau is home to more than 100 animals and birds.
Retired engineer and Hamilton Zoo volunteer David Croucher took on the challenge to design and build the new bed with some unique requirements after he was invited to visit the lions.
The entrance to their night enclosure was so small it wasn’t possible for a bed to fit through so Mr Croucher had to design it as a kitset.
"I’ve built a lot of animal enhancement toys over the years but this one needed unique creative thinking," he says.
"The keepers’ door is tiny – just enough to bend down and squeeze through – so I had to design each section carefully.
"Each part had to be small enough to go through the door yet big and strong enough to carry the weight of two lions at a time.
"And it had to be assembled inside the enclosure which meant no heavy tools or machinery could be used."
The bed needed to be 10 feet long by six feet wide and four feet off the ground. Its steel legs also needed to be embedded in concrete and the outdoor treated timber panels used for the bed’s surface had to have gaps small enough to allow food to fall through but large enough so claws could not get stuck.
Zoo director Helen Schofield says "the girls" have hardly come off the bed since it was erected.
"Lions love being elevated and our lionesses are getting a great deal of pleasure from the bed ... to get them down we need to entice them with a big piece of meat," she says.
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For all of you out there who read the last comment may of just learnt about Franklin Zoos lions

Sadly Queenie and Gypsy have passed away on the 24 September 2009 both have been sick for a while and it was decided by the staff and vet to put the two old girls to sleep.

Queenie, Gypsy and their brother Eddie who passed away on the 8 november 2008 where the last circus lions to ever be kept in new zealand and although sad to see them pass on great to know no more lions will have to suffer the life they did in the circus in new zealand
 
Franklin Zoo now only has one lion Ruby left after Jade passed away they are planning to get some young lions that ruby can take care of.:)
 
Sad to hear about Jade. The new lions must be coming from Orana or Paradise Valley. Both places have lions related to Ruby who was born in 1992 at Paradise Valley.
 
I know that, i was wanting to know about the evidence to support the statement "suffer the life they did in the circus in new zealand"
 
I don't no alot about this topic but I think when Duma says suffering in the circus it might mean them having to perform and do tricks and or because I know that circus lions do get their teeth and claws riped out or trimed so limiting natural behaviour like scratching etc or it could be because the circus handler may of bet them. These are only ideas but a circus isn't the best place for an animal to live so even in that respect i would call that suffering.
 
Kurger said:
I don't no alot about this topic but I think when Duma says suffering in the circus it might mean them having to perform and do tricks and or because I know that circus lions do get their teeth and claws riped out or trimed so limiting natural behaviour like scratching etc or it could be because the circus handler may of bet them. These are only ideas but a circus isn't the best place for an animal to live so even in that respect i would call that suffering.
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Heaven help us! What juvenile tripe.

Sim - please start up a completely seperate site for New Zealand children who know nothing and can't spell.
 
Speaking of Franklin zoo I looked in the gallery to see if I get get a feel of the place and see what they have but they are not listed in the nz gallery is there a reason for this.
 
Kurger said:
I don't no alot about this topic but I think when Duma says suffering in the circus it might mean them having to perform and do tricks and or because I know that circus lions do get their teeth and claws riped out or trimed so limiting natural behaviour like scratching etc or it could be because the circus handler may of bet them. These are only ideas but a circus isn't the best place for an animal to live so even in that respect i would call that suffering.
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??????
What a crock of ****! That statement is very broad and you make some interesting (and ridiculous) comments.

"I KNOW that circus lions DO get there (their) teeth and claws ripped out"

Really?

I am aware of some circuses that do declaw their lions but this is something that is easily hidden to the general public. Having their teeth ripped out is something I am unaware of especially in Australis and New Zealand (not saying it hasn't happened) but i find it hard to believe. There's not much impressive about a narling lion with no teeth.

Peopl are too quick to knock circuses. Do you have any idea which circus the lions came from or how they were treated. Do a little research before making accusations.
 
Well as a matter of fact I am aware of what circus they came from and how they were treated and am aware that two of the three lions developed illness from being in the circus and not getting the right vet treatment at the right time. There was no positives of those lions being in that circus apart from human entertainment so sorry for not being the biggest fans of the circus.

My comment was to try and point out what Duma may of been talking about without offending anyone I'm sorry if I have done so.

I would also like to point out that I'm not the best speller but I did spell "their" correct in that quote thank you very much.
 
Kurger said:
Well as a matter of fact I am aware of what circus they came from and how they were treated and am aware that two of the three lions developed illness from being in the circus and not getting the right vet treatment at the right time. There was no positives of those lions being in that circus apart from human entertainment so sorry for not being the biggest fans of the circus.
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Care to share these "Facts"?
As a 'New' (:rolleyes:) member you really need to prove that the info you are sharing as fact is correct. It takes alot to gain the trust of a global forum like this.
 
Yep, people who blatantly lie will only move futher and futher down the forum "Ladder"
 
Jarkari said:
??????


I am aware of some circuses that do declaw their lions but this is something that is easily hidden to the general public. Do a little research before making accusations.
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And where was your "research" done JT in order for you to so confidently make this claim?
 
Steve Robinson said:
And where was your "research" done JT in order for you to so confidently make this claim?
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I am not saying that any circuses here or in new zealand do and I'm sure the number of declawed lions now is lower then in the past. I wouldn't know for sure. I was merely stating that it has and does happen. But I have read articles relating to this and I will try and find them. (below is one although it may be biased as it favours animal rights activists, I will see if I can track down some more)

I am not anti animal circuses at all. I am looking forward to the day I can see a decent lion act in this country and in the future give me kids the same experiences I had at circuses as a kid. Lions didn't do anything for me when I was a kid before I went to the circus.

An aricle that mentions a declawed female lion cubs, there are a number of articles on this.

Maltreated Circus Lions, Tigers and Bears Take the Heat of Lebanese Politics - NCBuy.com Entertainment News
 
Found It:

December 18, 2007: The USDA cited Circus Pages for failing to provide adequate veterinary care as a result of the declawing of two young tigers, which is not allowed under the Animal Welfare Act unless done for medical reasons. The inspector wrote, “Declawing of large felids can cause considerable pain and discomfort to the animals and cause health problems.” The circus was also cited for failure to provide appropriate records regarding an adult tiger who had been given to another facility.
 
That's the whole problem - you and others like you do NOT know "for sure".

You parrot the crap that the AR mob feeds us from obscure overseas references that are impossible to verify.

And quoting the USDA for example is an indication of your lack of real knowledge. Do you know that the USDA once cited an exhibitor because the grass was too long in front of his exercise cage? On a one night stand for heaven's sake.

Please take your internet only gained knowledge with several grains of salt. I have been in the business for over 40 years and I would be the first to dob in exhibitors who stoop to the levels that the looney libbers claim that we do.

Don't confuse Zion with circus. He declaws because he doesn't have a clue. How do I know? Because I had him here for 24 hours
which was long enough to establish the fact that the man is a dud.

In Australia we have the toughest circus Standards in the world. What may or may not happen overseas has no relevance here.

Get it right or shut it.
 
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