By Ed Chatterton
Two of the world’s rarest lions have arrived at a UK zoo as part of a breeding program to help save the highly endangered big cats from extinction.
The pair of Asiatic lions – male Nilay and female Shanti – have been welcomed at Chester Zoo as part of global efforts to protect the species from vanishing forever.
The pair were genetically matched as part of an international conservation breeding program and it is hoped they will go on to have cubs together.
Conservationists say they have formed ‘an instant connection’ upon meeting after Nilay travelled from Köln Zoo in Germany and Shanti arrived from London Zoo.
Majestic photos show the pair exploring their new enclosure, which has been designed to look like India’s Gir Forest – the only place where they still roam free in the wild.
Dave Hall, team manager of carnivores at Chester Zoo, said: “The arrival of Nilay and Shanti marks an exciting new chapter in our conservation efforts to protect one of the world’s most extraordinary and endangered animals.
“Both lions are around two years old, which means they’re full of curiosity and youthful energy.
“They’re also at the age where they’d naturally start to leave their mother and become independent, which is why the time was right for them to join us here after being carefully matched together as part of the international conservation breeding program.
“Now that they’ve had time to settle in, we’ve successfully introduced the pair to one another in a special behind-the-scenes area, and the early signs are incredibly positive – they appear to have an instant connection, with lots of affectionate head rubbing and playful behaviors being shown to one another.
“We’re hopeful that as their bond grows stronger, we may one day have a pride again here at Chester, which would be another truly special milestone for the safety-net population of Asiatic lions.”
Fewer than 900 Asiatic lions remain in the wild, confined to a single forest in India.
Experts say they are incredibly vulnerable to the threat of disease, habitat loss and natural disasters.
The species are classified as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Conservationists warn that without help, they could follow in the footsteps of the Barbary and Persian lions that once roamed North Africa and the Middle East and vanished from the wild.
Mark Brayshaw, head of mammals at Chester Zoo, added: “Lions are one of the planet’s most iconic and admired animals, symbolizing strength and courage in many cultures around the world.
“But these majestic cats are facing a fight for survival, with their wild population now limited to just a small pocket of forest in India – making them incredibly susceptible to threats such as poaching, disease and habitat loss.
“That’s why global conservation breeding programs are so vitally important.
“By creating a safety-net population in zoos like ours, we can ensure that these incredible animals don’t disappear altogether like others in the past.
“At the same time, we’re part of conservation efforts in India and across Asia, where our teams are to working to protect highly threatened species and the landscapes they depend upon, so they can go on to thrive long into the future.”
Asiatic lions differ from their African cousins with shorter manes, smaller foreheads and a distinctive belly fold. Their short, sharp roar can be as loud as 114 decibels and can be heard up to 8km (4.9 miles) away.
