more "Barbary" lions....

Chlidonias

Chlidonias

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15+ year member
what sort of establishment is the Austin Zoo and Animal Sanctuary? A proper zoo, or one of those "rescue" type places?
Rare new babies at Austin Zoo?
The Austin Zoo and Animal Sanctuary may have a lion family that could help resurrect a subspecies that scientists believe is extinct in the wild.

The zoo last year received Cleopatra and Caesar from a private owner, and Cleopatra gave birth to two cubs Jan. 12.

The lion family's genes are being tested in Germany to determine if they are descendants of Barbary lions.

The Barbary lion formerly ranged in North Africa, from Morocco to Egypt . Males had dark, thick manes that extended from the groin to the head, one of two lion subspecies that sport belly fringe, said Patti Clark , executive director and president of the sanctuary and zoo. Males weighed as much as 500 pounds and females as much as 350 pounds.

If Austin's lion family shares a significant number of genetic markers with the Barbary line, the animals will be taken to Morocco and bred with other Barbary lions. The breeding will be overseen by the Barbary Lion Project by Wildlink International and Oxford University. The zoo could receive test results in a few months.

"This is the first time animals have been conceived at the Austin Zoo," Clark said. "These lions and their cubs can be potentially helpful in resurrecting this species."

Meanwhile, the zoo is allowing visitors to view the cubs from 3 to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
Click to expand...
 
One of those "Rescue" type places. One zoo that I've avoided on my Texas trips.
 
It's actually a rather nice facility. The exhibits are large and rather natural, with quite a bit of landscaping and enrichment materials. There are a few exceptions to that standard, but the non-profit that took over the operations a few years ago have made great strides in exhibit expansions and replacements. If I remember correctly, the lions in the article were rescued from a Mexican circus, along with a couple of leopards.
 
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