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The
Johannesburg Zoo’s Big Cat Project is aimed at improving
welfare of the zoo’s larger cats by creating a safe
enclosure for lions and introducing a male snow leopard.
The project is made up of combining two lion
islands, which includes moving fences, creating a new
landscape and merging the two night rooms. A jungle gym,
for the lions will also be installed, repainting the
night rooms, inserting solar panels to electrify the
fence, replacing the wooden doors in the night rooms
with steel doors and introducing beds in the night rooms
are all part of the project. Furthermore the project
will also include introducing a male snow leopard.
The cost of this project is R2.000.000 and the
amount is spread between each project.
Currently
the zoo has three lion islands which are home to three
prides. Each pride consists of one male and one or two
females.
A typical lion pride consists of 4 to 20
females and 2 or more males. They can occupy a territory
of up to 260km˛.
By merging two islands the lions
will resemble a typical lion pride in numbers; the
enclosure will bear a resemblance to the wild and will
offer the lions more space.
Lions use up most of
their energy while hunting and defending their
territory. Although the zoo does have many behavioral
enrichments programs such as soccer themed exercises,
the lions still require a lot more exercise. Adding a
jungle gym to the enclosure will allow the lions to be
more active.
The security, maintenance and
comfort of the lions in their night rooms also add to
their wellbeing. New night beds will allow the lions to
rest comfortably and replacing the old wooden doors with
metal doors will keep them safe.
The zoo is a
home to a beautiful female snow leopard, Andra. She was
brought to the zoo from Zoologisc her Garten Basel in
Switzerland and has been in the zoo for the past 6
years. She has been on her own for a while and now the
zoo has an opportunity to bring a male snow leopard from
Toronto Zoo in Canada. The zoo has an enclosure ready
for this arrival; however it requires funds to transport
the animal. The cost of transporting the snow leopard is
R139.000.
Snow leopards are rare. Poaching,
declining habitat and illegal trade have led to a
decline in snow leopards. Snow leopards are on the
endangered list with estimated 3 500 to 7 000 snow
leopard left in the wild. Conservation efforts are under
way to preserve these magnificent cats and the zoo would
like to contribute to these efforts.
Please make
a donation so that the zoo can continue to help preserve
species. To make a donation please contact Ioanna on 011
646 2000 or e-mail
Ioanna@jhbzoo.org.za
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