Bon Voyage, Lion Girls
Posted at 9:26 am September 28, 2007 by Marcia Redding
Well, we knew it would happen: Oshana’s daughters Bakari and Abena, the first cubs to be born at the Wild Animal Park’s Lion Camp, will soon be traveling to their new home at the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We have all been privileged to watch as the sisters grew from helpless cubs to the confident young females they are today. We will miss them, but this move will enable them to start their own pride when they are old enough. As carriers of an unrepresented bloodline, it is very important that they start families of their own. The girls will stay together and eventually be introduced to a male. Last week, both lions had their pre-shipment exam and passed their physical with flying colors; Bakari (pictured with her father, Izu) now weighs 177 pounds (80 kilograms), and Abena (pictured below) weighs a solid 212 (96 kilograms).
Over the past months, we have worked on crate training with the girls. They eagerly enter the shipping crate when asked and will even hang out there if allowed. Detailed records describing their training, personalities, and medical histories will accompany them to their new home to smooth their transition. We wish the best for them in their new life.
Kamau and Zenda, Mina’s boys, will remain with us for a while longer. There is a distinct possibility that we soon will have new litters of cubs at Lion Camp, and the boys can be on exhibit so dad Izu can spend more time inside bonding with the new arrivals.
As we say goodbye to Bakari and Abena, we are beginning a new chapter in the lives of the Lion Camp pride. There are exciting days ahead!
Marcia Redding is a senior keeper at the Wild Animal Park.
Read Marcia’ previous blog, Lion Cubs Form New Pride.
More images have been added to our Lion Photo Gallery!
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September 28th, 2007 at 11:51 am
I love visiting the San Diego Zoo and the Wild Animal Park as my wife and I come to San Diego twice every year just to vacation and visit the zoo and park alternating every day where we go(we are from Maryland) but it would be nice if the people who run these places would just tell the truth, not when just about the good things that happen but also the bad and unfortunate, saying that Abena and Bakari are the first cubs born there is a lie and a disgrace to KOZA even when it is human error that took his life. For goodness sakes just tell the TRUTH!!!
Moderator’s note: Due to complications, little Koza was born at the Wild Animal Park’s hospital, not at the Park’s Lion Camp, and hand-raised at the Park’s Animal Care facility. See Marcia’s blog about his birth: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/lion-camp-update-a-new-member-of-the-pride/
September 28th, 2007 at 2:04 pm
Congratulations to Oshana and Izu on a job well done of raising two healthy, confident young female lions. It is great that they can make the journey and enter into the next chapter in their live in a new home together. Hopefully they will remain as compatible as Oshana and Mina are. If my memory is correct Oshana and Mina are sisters too? Or at least related in some way. Izu is a great father and has done an admirable job with his pride of 4 cubs.
It is sad that the boys lost their sister, but they seem to have made out fine. Will they be likely to go to new homes together as well, similar to how male tiger cubs seem to be moved, or will they go to separate homes to each start their own prides?
Speaking of tigers, how are the tiger cubs coming along? They must be pretty big now too.
September 28th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
Goodbye, Bakari & Abena! It seems like yesterday that you were wee tumbling furballs. I’m sure you’ll enjoy life with new friends…but boy will you be missed, sweet girlies!
September 28th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
It is sad to see them go, but I know their bloodline is very important. I have watched them from the very first day out and come all the time to see them, I will miss them so much. I wish Barkari & Abina well and happiness, may they both have beautiful babies and live long and happy lives in Michigan.
Hopefully we will have move baby lions here in San Diego again and get the pleasure to see them grow.
GOOD LUCK BARKARI & ABENA
September 28th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Ooohhh, wow. I’ve been hoping to find out information on the pride and the cubs, but nothing has been posted for so long. Before they go, is SDZ going to post pictures of them ? It’s been so long and just to see how big they’ve gotten would be great ! I’ve been unable to get to the zoo since they were first born.
Good luck to Bakari, and Abena in their new home. But please, oh please, can SDZ post some recent pictures of them ?
September 30th, 2007 at 6:54 am
Thanx. for the update!!!!! I agree with Lainie, can U please post pictures of the cubs, I’m dieing to see what they look like.
You mentioned that you may have more cubs very soon, so are Oshana and Mina pregnant or have you seen matings. Also, are you going to breed the 3rd female again. It has been a whole year since her 2nd litter was born(stillborn).
How much longer to the 2 males have????
Please keep updating!!!!
September 30th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
aawww I am going to miss seeing the girls. I have watched them grow up from little cubs to the big girls that they are now. I know how important it is that they go to another zoo since they are from wild lions. I hope that we will be kept up to date on the there progress in Michigan.
October 1st, 2007 at 9:54 am
Marcia,
I have to be honest, I cringed when I saw the word ” Michigan” . I know the animals will receive great care, but I have always been concerned about animals living in an appropriate climate. There is no doubt San Diego is great for Big Cats, but Michigan? I have noticed there has been more discussion in the ” animal community” in the past few years about whether certain animals should reside in certain parts of the country. I also have mixed feelings about pandas and polar bears living in San Diego. How does the staff feel about sending the lions to such a cold climate? Thanks.
October 1st, 2007 at 11:29 am
I understand your concerns, Deb. One of the best things about lions is their adaptability – they can tolerate low temperatures very well, as long as access to a warm area is provided. Also – if the inside quarters are well designed and plenty of enrichment is provided, the animals will be healthy and happy until spring arrives. At Lion Camp, members of the pride can be difficult to release onto exhibit – sometimes they just want to be inside. I am confident that the staff at John Ball Zoo will take excellent care of our girls.
October 2nd, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Question: Does anyone know why Farasi, the lion who went from WAP to ZA, has had no cubs while in Atlanta? I read today that he fathered 3 cubs in 1995 while he resided at WAP. Is he related to any of the lions currently at Lion Camp? He originally came from Kruger National Park, so I am guessing he was a wild lion there??
Someone mentioned that Izu was a wild lion and that is why his genes are so valuable. Was he found in the wild, or a nature reserve? Did all the females come from captive sources or were some of them also boen in the wild?
October 3rd, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Thanks for the update on lion cubs Abena and Bakari. I’m glad that they will be staying together.
Oshana was a sensational mother with the two cubs. I enjoyed the way Oshana would pick up little Abena and carry her back into the den when she was really small. When is the estimated departure date for the two cubs as I liked to see them again before they leave. I rarely see the Sumatran tigers anymore on exhibit. Would it be possible to let us know what days they are available for viewing, maybe have a place on the Sd Wild Animal Park website where people can check.
How often do the Tiger cubs use the pool, if at all? Last I checked, it looked like the pool could use some sprucing up. It would be awesome to watch those growing Sumatran’s enjoy the pool as they really love the water.
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:03 pm
I hope the girls do well in their new home, and wish we could have heard a bit more about them in the past few months. It will be sad to see them go, since we were all there when they were born. Please keep us posted on their travel to their new home and do hope to hear how they adjust when they arrive. It’s comforting to know they will have eachother in an unfamiliar place, with new faces and surroundings. =)
October 4th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
Thanx for pics
October 5th, 2007 at 4:05 am
Oh, I just hate you, Marcia! When I look at those adorable pictures, I get so jealous of you. All of you must love your jobs. You are truly blessed to have the rare opportunity to care for such beautiful creatures. Stay safe (too many attacks by cats in the past year).
October 5th, 2007 at 4:44 am
Oh my goodness! Michigan is my home, and I live in the L.P. Grand Rapids is about 160 miles from me.
October 5th, 2007 at 8:20 am
Thanks for the photos. It helps to see how they get along so well with ” Dad Izu” and how much they have grown and matured.
Please write a quick update on the boys too, as well as Etosha and if she might be pregnant.
October 6th, 2007 at 8:27 am
Thanks everybody for the nice comments. Margaret, the boys Kamau and Zenda eventually will be separated and go to different zoos to start their own prides. Before they go, we will wean them off of each others’ company (and of course give them lots of individual attention) to smooth the transition for them. We would like them to stay at least until 2008 to take over exhibit duty when the new cubs are born.
Jack, we expect to have cubs sometime in November. Both Mina and Oshana are pregnant. Etosha has not become pregnant again despite several matings. As you know, she has had poor outcomes in her previous pregnancies. She has had extensive testing to try and determine what is causing this, but we have not discovered anything that would explain her difficulties. You will be happy to know that Etosha and M’bari are as close as ever and still play vigorously as if they were cubs, not dignified adult lions!
Margaret, I have no information about Farasi other than he is doing very well. I remember him from his time at the WAP – he was a wonderful fellow, very happy and easy to work with, and had a beautiful blonde mane. I’m sure the zoo in Atlanta is enjoying him! Izu and all the lions imported from Africa in 2004 were born in a semi captive situation, on a private reserve. They were already habituated to humans when we received them and are not considered to be wild lions. This is why they took so readily to their keepers and the training program – they already considered people to be fun and interesting. All of the original six’s bloodlines are valuable because they represent a new gene pool, and are not related to any lions in North America.
A quick tiger cub update – all three are doing very well and indeed are getting big. They are all doing great with the training program. As of now the cubs and Delta are on exhibit Tuesdays after 12 pm, Saturday and Sunday. Keep in mind that this may change if there are problems getting the other animals off exhibit. As you know, Tigers are solitary as adults, unlike Lions who are the only social cat. The cub’s father, Utan, and the two other adult tigers, Blanca and Malacca, need exhibit time as well. Malacca is 22 years old and sometimes decides to stay outside an extra day. She was older when we began the training program with the tigers, and has continued to do pretty much what she wants, when she wants. At her age, this is perfectly OK with us! The three cubs will be separated and all go to different institutions. However, little Kamala will probably be staying with us! Hopefully we will have some updated pictures of them soon.
Cameron – I hope you’ll be able to visit the girls in their new home! They are so fun to watch, I know you will enjoy them. They are scheduled to travel to their new home sometime next week. They will be in quarantine for 30 days, a standard procedure to ensure they are healthy before meeting the other animals.
I hope this answers everyone’s questions! Thanks to to you all for caring about our precious animals.
October 6th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Thanx!!
so, 2 more litters in November. What a baby boom!!!!!!
October 6th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Thanks Marcia for the comprehensive and informative update regarding the lions and tigers. You are doing a great service by providing these nice updates on the animals you care for. It was really nice to see the 3 sumatran tiger cubs out with their mother Delta today. Needless to say, they are beautiful tigers.
I really appreciate knowing when they are scheduled to be out on exhibit!
I was also really pleased to see the girls, Abena and Bakari, before they leave for Michigan this upcoming week. Oshana was so good with them and I wish them the best in their new home.
It looks like the great IZU is going to be a legend in lion folklore! Two more sets of lion cubs with Oshana and Mina, amazing and something very exciting to look forward to at the SD Wild Animal Park.
I think you will have to build a statue one day to honor this great South African lion Izu;-)
He is one cool cat!
Keep up the great work!
October 8th, 2007 at 8:39 am
Marcia, thanks for the thorough and very educational update on all the lions and the tiger cubs. As I recall you have a pair of tigers that are finished breeding but enjoy each other’s company. I think I read about a year ago that they are back on exhibit together. Is my recollection accurate? It happened around the time you lost Belang I believe.
Since the newest cubs, yet to be born, will be so tiny in December, my guess is that you will have either Kamau and Zenda, and Izu(?) on exhibit during the Holiday Lights festival, or perhaps the tigers? I recall that last year the ” girls” were on exhibit with Oshana and Izu and that everyone, including the lions, enjoyed their evening adventures.
October 8th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Margaret # 20 – Oh my gosh – the Festival of Lights – it’s not that far off! I’m so glad you mentioned it! I go every year – it’s just the best way to get into the holiday spirit – no matter what your beliefs. The air is crisp at night, and the animals are so much more active. Yummy treats – and the amazing light displays. It’s just magical and great way to spend an evening with family and friends. If you’ve never gone – please do – the lions will be waiting for you!
October 10th, 2007 at 9:15 am
Cherl, #21, I wish I could go since I love light displays at public places, and it sounds very magical. But, I live in Virginia, so it is not likely that I will get to see them. I want to make a trip to San Diego within the next few months, and December might be a good time to go. Since I am not into the beach, but more into the animals, I could see all three parks at that time, and the animals would likely be more active then. Besides my college age friends would be on Winter break. So…. who knows.
October 10th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
What part of November are the cubs due?
October 11th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Gram has made his journey to his new home in Kansas, along with 2 fossas and other animals. Have Bakari and Abena left for their new home in Michigan? If not, when are they scheduled to go? Hopefully they will have as unstressed a trip as Gram had. It is hard for everyone, especially keepers and staff who have seen them every day, to say Goodbye, but it must be very exciting for the zoo staff and visitors in Michigan to be awaiting their arrival. I know how excited the Great Cats keepers were at NZP were when three lions arrived from South Africa last December. Until then there was only one lonely lioness there from Texas. Now there are 4 lions, and they keep everyone hopping. It is really exciting to see the young lions interacting, and especially to watch the two year old male maturing and his mane growing bigger and thicker. He will be quite a handsome male, with his ” harem” of three females. Like Izu his ” pride” will consist of two young females who hopefully will bear many lion cubs. Who knows, the offspring of NZ lionesses and Bakari’s and Abena’s offspring may some day be paired together. In the world of endangered species reproduction and genetics, any thing may be possible if it helps them get stronger bloodlines.
October 13th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
I just read in the Grand Rapids paper that our zoo is getting the lion cubs next week. A wonderful new exhibit is being built for them. I’ll keep you posted on any news I hear & will plan on a trip to John Ball zoo soon to see them. Maureen
Moderator’s note: That sounds wonderful, Maureen. Thanks for looking out for our little gals!
October 17th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
Any news on new cubs. I know they haven’t been born yet but are they showing sighns of giving birth soon.
October 22nd, 2007 at 11:27 am
I’m a volunteer at the zoo in Michigan where Abina and Bakari now reside (they arrived last Sunday). Their soon-to-be-mate, Docha, is very handsome. They will make beautiful cubs. The new lion exhibit winter quarters will be complete at about the time the girls are ready to leave quarantine. The winter home is where they will meet the new ” man” of their dreams.
To Deb, Michigan is not exactly the north pole, in fact they temperature this past Saturday was 79 degrees. During the cooler weather is when the big cats become more active. Granted, it can get pretty cold here, but the big cats love eating ” snow cones.”
Moderator’s note: Thanks for keeping us posted, Ellen. Those snow cones sound fun!
October 22nd, 2007 at 12:11 pm
I am from Grand Rapids, MI as well and grew up going to John Ball. I agree definitely with what you said.
October 24th, 2007 at 12:08 am
Lions used to live all over Europe and there are some in India. So, I am sure the two will adapt fine to Michigan winters. I’ve noticed that big cats in colder climate zoos tend to grow thicker hair. I’ve seen this in housecats(which all originate from middle eastern cats). They get very fuzzy in the winter and then, come June, its time to use the vacuum cleaner daily to get up all the cat hair.
January 7th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
I live in MI and am at JBZ constantly and have volunteered for a few years and hope to return and I can’t wait to se bakari and abena.