Zoo’s pretty open about their delight

Staff at Johannesburg Zoo was absolutely delighted to introduce two lion cubs to their new enclosure, alongside their mom Sabi.

March 27, 2018

Laura Pisanello 2 minutes read

The zoo's curator for carnivores, Agnes Maluleke, explains the various types of enrichment they provide for the lions. Photo: Laura Pisanello.

Staff at Johannesburg Zoo was absolutely delighted to introduce two lion cubs to their new enclosure, alongside their mom Sabi.

Male cub Bula and female Bontle were born in October last year, and on 19 March were given the opportunity to explore their new enclosure under the watchful eye of their mom and zookeepers.

The zoo’s curator for carnivores, Agnes Maluleke, was bursting with pride as she introduced the two cubs. “The female cub is very calm and nice, I think she is very sweet, which is why we called her Bontle [Pretty]. The male cub is a bit aggressive so we named him Bula [Open] because we think that this is the new era of lions in the zoo.”

Executive manager of the zoo, Lombard Shirindzi said, “It has been very depressing and quiet to see the new home for the cubs sitting empty, so today is a great day for us to relocate the cubs from the night rooms where they have been kept.”

Maluleke added, “We haven’t had lion cubs born in the zoo for the past 10 years and today we are here to celebrate these beautiful, majestic animals born in the zoo.”

Cubs Bula (Open) and Bontle (Pretty) look out at their new enclosure with some trepidation. Photo: Laura Pisanello

Executive manager of the zoo, Lombard Shirindzi, describes how excited he is to have lion cubs at the zoo. Photo: Laura Pisanello

She highlighted that there are various challenges threatening the existence of lions in the wild, ranging from habitat loss to poaching. “We have to step in as the community and as conservationists to do something to save these animals.”

The zoo currently has 10 lions – five male and five female – but Sabi and her cubs will remain in a separate enclosure until they are older. Many of the lions at the zoo are quite old which is why the addition of the two cubs is a significant contribution to the zoo’s conservation efforts.

An anxious Bontle (Pretty) peeks out from the safety of the night room. Photo: Laura Pisanello.

The zoo’s curator for carnivores, Agnes Maluleke, is over the moon about the two new cubs at Joburg Zoo.

Maluleke added that the zoo places an emphasis on ensuring the lions are stimulated both physically and mentally. The lions are provided pachyderm (large thick-skinned animals such as elephants or rhinos) dung to roll in, which is comparable to catnip for smaller cats.

Large pieces of meat in ice blocks are provided on hot days, and jungle gyms and various toys are also provided to give the animals a selection of entertainment. “We try to learn as much as we can about lions from how they behave in the wild and we introduce the same thing in captivity.”

Sabi had given birth previously but the cub died two weeks later of an illness. In order to ensure that Sabi gave birth to healthy cubs this time, she was put into a night room where could be comfortable before giving birth. “We don’t encourage hand rearing unless it’s absolutely necessary, so we do our best to make sure that when she gives birth she is ready to take care of her cubs,” concluded Maluleke.

Details: Johannesburg Zoo 011 646 2000.

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