New exhibit will provide larger home for endangered Asiatic lion captive breeding group
A new habitat for Asiatic lions is to be constructed at ZSL London Zoo to provide state-of-the-art facilities for a breeding group of one of the world's most endangered big cats.
In the next few weeks the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) will break ground on the new £5.2 million exhibit Land of the Lions, due to open in spring 2016. At more than 2,500 square metres - 27,000 sq ft - the lions' new home will be five times the size of their previous enclosure and has been designed in conjunction with zookeepers and conservationists.
With only 400 Asiatic lions remaking in the wild, ZSL's fundraising campaign Lions400 is supporting the captive breeding programme via the new exhibit and international projects to protect wild lions in the Gir Forest in India.
Asiatic lions are particularly vulnerable to the threats of disease and conflict with humans and ZSL is working with the Gujarat government and Wildlife Institute of India to try to safeguard the lions' future.
The new exhibit will aim to raise awareness of just how closely humans and lions live in the Gir Forest and give visitors to see the big cats in a 360-degree lions den.
Image © ZSL London Zoo
