Two of the world’s rarest lions have arrived at Chester Zoo as part of efforts to protect the highly endangered animals from extinction.
The pair of Asiatic lions – a male named Nilay from Köln Zoo in Germany and a female named Shanti from London Zoo – were carefully matched by conservationists following genetic analysis as part of an international breeding programme.
Zoo staff said the duo formed “an instant connection” and were hopeful that they would go on to have cubs in the future.
Chester Zoo plays a significant role in helping to safeguard the long-term survival of Asiatic lions, which now number fewer than 900 individuals in the wild.
Carnivore experts have now shared the first images of the iconic big cats exploring their new home, which has been specially designed to recreate the dry forests and scrublands of India’s Gir Forest – the only place on Earth where Asiatic lions still exist in the wild.
“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,” said Dave Hall, carnivore team manager at Chester Zoo.
“Both lions are around two years old, which means they’re full of curiosity and youthful energy.
“They’re also that 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 programme.”
He said keepers had successfully introduced the pair to one another in a behind-the-scenes area, and that the early signs were “incredibly positive”.
“They appear to have an instant connection, with lots of affectionate head rubbing and playful behaviours being shown,” he said.
“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.”
Lions once roamed across large parts of Africa, Greece, Turkey and Asia but now live in isolated populations, leaving them vulnerable to the threat of disease, habitat loss and natural disasters.
Experts warn that, without effective conservation, Asiatic lions could follow the Barbary and Persian lions – that once roamed North Africa and the Middle East – by vanishing from the wild.
“Lions are one of the planet’s most iconic and admired animals, symbolising strength and courage in many cultures around the world,” said Mark Brayshaw, head of mammals at the zoo.
“These majestic cats are facing a fight for survival, with their wild population now limited to just a small pocket of forest in India.
“That’s why global conservation breeding programmes 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.”
Conservationist were working in India and across Asia to protect the threatened species and the landscapes they depend upon, he said.
Asiatic lions are distant relatives of African lions. They have subtle biological differences, with Asiatic lions generally having shorter manes, shorter foreheads and a distinctive skin fold running the length of their belly.
Their short, sharp roar can be as loud as 114 decibels, and it can be heard up to 8km away.
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