Belfast Zoo has opened a new state-of-the-art enclosure for its Barbary lions, which are extinct in the wild and part of an international breeding programme.
Barbary lions were once native to North Africa. The only Barbary lions left in the world are now found in zoos and are part of a global breeding programme to ensure their survival. The last recorded wild Barbary lion was shot in Morocco in 1942.
Belfast Zoo is home to a pride of Barbary lions. Its male lion is named Qays and the two females are called Fidda and Theibba.
“Lion populations all over Africa are in trouble. We hope this new facility, this new habitat will be used for future breeding,” said zoo manager Alyn Cairns (via ITV News).
Barbary lions in global breeding programme
“We share information with other zoos, and we make sure that there is no inbreeding. It’s basically Tinder for Barbary lions and other endangered animals.”
Lara Clarke, senior lion keeper at the zoo, added: “Things don’t look great for the Barbary lion. If we don’t take action now and get the international breeding programme to work then these lions will be extinct within my lifetime.”
Belfast Zoo’s new Kingdom of the Barbary Lion facility was opened by Belfast Lord Mayor Ryan Murphy on 7 August.
It is designed for the lions, with trees, ridges, rocks, caves, a viewing platform and climbing poles. “There is about twice as much floor space now in the new lion habitat,” Cairns told the Independent.
Barbary lions were once seen in the Atlas Mountains in North Africa. “We have created that type of environment so our lions are high, they have a lovely vantage point, they have great views, not just of the public but of the surrounding area,” Cairns added.
Last year, Belfast Zoo said it had decided to phase out elephants, with resident Asian elephants Dhunja and Yhetto to be transferred together to another zoo.
