Meaghan Edwards
Well-Known Member
I just looked up pictures of Subu. He was beautiful. RIP!
Colchester Zoo Subu the lion dead?
- Thread starter ZooLeopard
- Start date
Very sad to hear, he was indeed an impressive male and quite a character.
I would in a way hope that they do not replace the lions as the enclosure is not overly suitable as although quite long there is very little depth. Furthermore it would be good to see alot of the hot wiring removed from the enclosure as is completly over done.
However i cannot see the zoo continuing without keeping lions as they strive to continually maintain and expand there collection and not having one of the ABC species is probably not an option for the zoo. Will be interesting to see what they choose to do.
RIP Subu.
I would in a way hope that they do not replace the lions as the enclosure is not overly suitable as although quite long there is very little depth. Furthermore it would be good to see alot of the hot wiring removed from the enclosure as is completly over done.
However i cannot see the zoo continuing without keeping lions as they strive to continually maintain and expand there collection and not having one of the ABC species is probably not an option for the zoo. Will be interesting to see what they choose to do.
RIP Subu.
Yes, the White Lions in Europe (every last one, as far as I'm aware) are pure (if probably rather inbred) P. l. krugeri. No other African lions in the UK (with the possible exception of the Barbaries - can of worms #2!) are pure subspecies.
Although, to throw further petrol on this particular raging bonfire, I noticed recently that the IUCN now only recognise 2 lion subspecies anyway - Asian and everything else (as P. l. leo) - can of worms #3. If this becomes accepted generally then whether Kruger Lions or Kalahari Lions or Angolan Lions or Barbary Lions are pure becomes theoretically irrelevant just so long as they're not hybridised with Asians. Personally this feels like a 'lump too far', but we'll see what happens.
Surely the elephants, rhinos and giraffe count as ABC species
And they already have a couple other species of big cat, so they're not lacking on the big feline front without lions (IMO). Subu is one of the few animals I can recall clearly from my visits many years ago - one good looking lion indeed
Surely the elephants, rhinos and giraffe count as ABC species
Yes, but you're thinking like a rational zoo enthusiast, not like a member of the general public (who expect/want to see a Lion when they visit a zoo).
Personally, I can manage without Lions at Colchester and would like to see a new species brought in, but I realise there are strong commercial pressures to retain them.
Seems like I've gained a few supporters...
But my realistic guess is Colchester will want more Lions again as a major 'crowd pleaser' and the exhibit won't remain empty for long.
karenZOO
Well-Known Member
Its a shame the linton 3 (lion cubs) have already been sentenced to Noahs Ark!
It will be a shame if Colchester get any spare lions from a safari park as I like many others aren't a fan of Lion Rock and feel its to small!!
SO Colchester if you are listening!! (reading) Geladas in Lion Rock, Kick out the warthogs and replace with lions! and a nice (original) lemur walk through in the geladas Please!!!!
It will be a shame if Colchester get any spare lions from a safari park as I like many others aren't a fan of Lion Rock and feel its to small!!
SO Colchester if you are listening!! (reading) Geladas in Lion Rock, Kick out the warthogs and replace with lions! and a nice (original) lemur walk through in the geladas Please!!!!
Subu is one of the few animals I can recall clearly from my visits many years ago - one good looking lion indeed
But don't you think that's one of the very reasons they will want to continue having Lions in the collection?
cheetahgirl
Well-Known Member
they really need lions because they have lost 1 of the 3 big 5 animals species they had and i think every zoo should have as many of the big five as possible as they atract more people because thats what people want to see, the big 5, (pos in the wild) but captivity is the closest we get to the wild.
I'm surprised they have remained pure so long and nowhere has outcrossed with other generic Lions yet. Presumably because so far everyone keeping them has bred 'white x white' to get more whites. But any of the current whites that end up in 'mixed' groups could see them being bred with generics too.
Re Barbaries; I think its now irrefutably been proved from the DNA that the main genetic 'lines' of so-called Barbaries are not pure(or even contain Barbary genes at all)- though zoos keeping them are generally still in denial about this.
Surely the elephants, rhinos and giraffe count as ABC species
Subu is one of the few animals I can recall clearly from my visits many years ago - one good looking lion indeed
By ABC species what I mean is that generally when a member of the public goes to the zoo they expect to see certain animals, as you say like giraffe, rhino, apes, tigers, penguins and etc and lions are a part of that list. As Colchester zoo is so commercialised and most members of the public expect to see a lion when visiting a zoo, IMO, I cannot see them not holding the species for long.
I believe the zoo should hold off of getting in new lions for now as it is generally agreed the existing Lion ‘Mock’ Rock
enclosure is not suitable. Agree Gelada’s would look good here, always confused how the whole zoo has been plastered in pink fake rock yet within the Geladas existing enclosure (when they originate from rocky plateaus) there is none is site.
Instead I think they should wait to return lions to the collection until Sasha (the white tiger) eventually passes on as this enclosure is a more decent size. Would accommodate Asians nicely IMO.
johnstoni
Well-Known Member
Why did they even build the current lion enclosure? I remember the last one down by White Tiger Valley, it seemed modern and spacious enough for African lions. Maybe its the rockwork but the current enclosure does have a claustrophobic feel, especially with so much intense hotwiring.
Yes is rather strange, the old enclosure is now home to the Cherry crowned mangabeys. I do not think there is much of a size difference between the two enclosures so the decision to move them/ build a new one of similar size was strange.
I visited Colchester last year for the first time in several years. The old and new Lion enclosures are so similar in both appearance and size I never realised during my visit that the male Lion was in a different enclosure to where they were previously ! Only when I found out later on here..
karenZOO
Well-Known Member
The original idea of a new mixed exhibit went horribly wrong! The new exhibit was supposed to house meerkats and lions but as the first meerkat ventured out.... you can guess the rest! Also the fennec foxes exhibit was incorporated.
It did used to get very cramped at feeding time in the old enclosure and meant you could not get past as it was a bottleneck, with the new one there was many more viewing areas.
It did used to get very cramped at feeding time in the old enclosure and meant you could not get past as it was a bottleneck, with the new one there was many more viewing areas.
Little Lion Man
Well-Known Member
I would like too see Colchester go back into having Lions again. However I would like to see them in a new enclosure. But I cannot figure out where there would be space to place one.
Agree- its spacious and in a very central part of the Zoo too. 'Sasha' the white tiger may be a visitor attraction but he's not terribly in keeping with the newer style of Colchester. He could easily go elsewhere but regulars might object?.
Agree Gelada’s would look good here, always confused how the whole zoo has been plastered in pink fake rock yet within the Geladas existing enclosure (when they originate from rocky plateaus) there is none is site.
What about the prospect of getting pure africans somewhere?
If Colchester was to build a new enclosure for them, This could work very well as a new start for the UK in terms of getting in purer ones that would therefore be more valuable to collections.
I too think the white tiger valley would make a very good Asiatic Lion Enclosure.
However getting pure africans in im sure would take time, and other collections may find it useful to 'free-up' space to take future cubs from these. I cannot see this happening any time relatively soon. But in the next 5 years or so when by that time Dartmoor's lions will be pretty elderly aswell as the ones at South Lakes and many breeding pairs will be of no use anymore - Quite abit of space will be free for purer individuals.
Just a thought.
If Colchester was to build a new enclosure for them, This could work very well as a new start for the UK in terms of getting in purer ones that would therefore be more valuable to collections.
I too think the white tiger valley would make a very good Asiatic Lion Enclosure.
However getting pure africans in im sure would take time, and other collections may find it useful to 'free-up' space to take future cubs from these. I cannot see this happening any time relatively soon. But in the next 5 years or so when by that time Dartmoor's lions will be pretty elderly aswell as the ones at South Lakes and many breeding pairs will be of no use anymore - Quite abit of space will be free for purer individuals.
Just a thought.