22/10/2010
A quick catnap and a long lie-in later, three lionesses found themselves in fancy new digs.
Wellington Zoo's big cats, Zahra, Djembe and Djane, have been living in a temporary enclosure for the past eight months while their habitat got a $130,000 makeover.
Yesterday, keepers put the trio to sleep so they could be moved across the zoo to their renovated den.
The zoo's two male lions, Zulu and Malik, have been on an extended vacation at Orana Wildlife Park in Christchurch for the past 18 months and are expected to return before Christmas.
Zoo spokesman Matt Kennard said the lions' den had been expanded and modernised in the hopes that, when the males returned, a breeding programme could begin.
Moving the three lionesses took three hours and required 12 hands-on staff, senior carnivore keeper Dave French said.
"Djane took a little longer, as I expected, because she's by far the most fiery of the three, and she took a little bit longer to fall asleep."
One by one, the lionesses were injected by hand with tranquilisers, then given health checks before being transported to their den. Vets gave them medication to begin waking them up as soon as possible but it took hours before they were fully alert, Mr French said.
The lions were being given a small amount of meat while they recovered, before regular feeds resumed today.
"We'll give them a bit of meat, as much for us to start bonding again as anything. There is a degree of trust that has to be rebuilt. It won't take long because there is a strong relationship."
The nine-year-old lionesses are all from the same litter and Mr French has worked with them since they were a year old.
They were kept in solitary confinement for most of yesterday but were expected to be reunited by last night.
Each lioness weighs more than 120kg and, although soundly tranquilised for the move, all three were watched carefully to ensure they did not wake up or react to the anaesthetic.
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