Lions » Taronga Zoo

04-05-2008

I don't wish to belittle those zoos that claim to have pure subspecies of lion, but when did ARAZPA zoos start claiming that they had pure senegalensis? I understand that several krugeri entered the region through Mogo's white freaks and Auckland's imports, but senegalensis???? I know for a fact that several lions indicated on ISIS were just average 'African' lions when I worked with them! Has anybody done genetic testing or do they resemble a 'phenotype'? Most of these pure animals also seem to be in potential mixed subspecies groups.

04-05-2008

Correct tetrapod, almost all of the lions in the region are of unknown origins, and they are managed as a single group in the region. This means any of the males can be bred with any of the females (attempting to avoid inbreeding, of course).

The supposed krugeri at Adelaide and Auckland are all females ( so (would not be bred with male krugeri if/when they breed), and most of the rest are of unknown origins. Unfortunately, a number of the zoos list their lions as P. l. senegalensis, even though most of them have very little knowledge of their wild origins. The white lions are not included in any regional management at all.

The carnivore TAG decided to manage all lions as a single group in the region, since they are of display value only, and not of any conservation value. In my opinion, I'd have gone with calling them generic lions, Panthera leo, but, hey, I don't make the rules lol

04-05-2008

I think the running total this week is 16, but that may have changed by the time you read this

04-05-2008

I was one of the persons on here supporting Mogo's right to have a unique species to try to draw people through the turnstiles but 16. Looks like they are going to be overrun with the white lions, if they are not already. What do they plan to do with all those lions? Don't they still have tawnies? Love to see their food bill. They might have to cull the water buffaloes in the other paddocks to feed them uless they can get them to eat grass.

05-05-2008

Does Mogo have the largest number of lions in one place in Australia? or does that honour go to Cairns?