He arrived as a breeding male at the beginning of March, a few days before the declaration of the State of Emergency, to join the herd of four females.
from this week Lubango, the young 3-year-old lion of the subspecies Angolan lion (Panthera leo bleyenberghi), is already going out regularly in the mornings to his outside area. Continuing with the complicated acclimatization process, has begun to discover the enclosure that faithfully recreates the unique formations of the kopjes of the African savanna, which makes it possible for us to now contemplate the impressive image of this beautiful lion on the rocks while watching over the herds of antelope. Came from the Lisbon Zoo to join the herd of four females of the same subspecies formed by Luana, Sortuda, Tata and Shanga.
A few days after his arrival The State of Alarm was declared, but the development of his adaptation remained completely normal, since the most important thing is to guarantee the maximum well-being of the animals. At first she had to begin to get used to both the place and her new caregivers, as well as become familiar with the presence of the group of females. Once this first phase was completed, she had to get to know her new colleagues, always individually, first with visual contact and then moving on to bonding with each of them. This long and dangerous process, is one of the most variable, since it depends on the behavior of each individual and the hierarchy and character of all of them must be taken into account.
In this period Lubango It has been accessing the outdoor area at first without an audience and then for a short time during times of lower attendance. With the favorable evolution, BIOPARC technicians continue to advance in his accommodation with more and more hours and a greater number of visitors, so at first he will remain alone and later with the rest of the herd. In this way, Lubango leaves in the mornings and in the afternoons the group of females. The incorporation of new animals requires great dedication and experience on the part of the park team and is especially important for the well-being of not only the animal but also the group it joins.
Lubango, the young lion, in the BIOPARC Valencia Savannah.
The Angolan lion subspecies (Panthera leo bleyenberghi) is classified by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) as vulnerable to extinction. Unfortunately, lion populations are in decline due to the destruction of their habitat and poaching and it is estimated that there are about 25.000 left in the wild.. It is one of the last “indicator species” of the health of African landscapes and its dramatic decline is a sign of the degradation of the ecosystems it inhabits. Beholding the beauty of the BIOPARC lion pride reminds us of the need to change our attitude towards protecting the rich biodiversity of our planet.
