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Maguari

Barbary Lion males at Port Lympne 27/11/09

[i]Panthera leo leo[/i] Well, maybe.

Barbary Lion males at Port Lympne 27/11/09
Maguari, 1 Dec 2009
    • Maguari
      Panthera leo leo

      Well, maybe.
    • Jose
      very powerful looking , i know there have been attacks by tigers on zookeepers at the Aspinall parks , but have there ever been any incidents with lions?
    • Pertinax
      The 'Barbary' Lions ( the originals were adults from Washington, so would be unfamiliar animals to them) came long after the early days, maybe even after the fatal accidents with Tigers that stopped keepers going in with them, so I think its safe to say from that combination that the answer is No.

      By the way these two males are standing together, I think they would be the sibling males Milo & Moonlight. Which enclosure were they in?
    • Maguari
      The very same. They were near to the tigers and timber wolves in the woodland to the right of the main entrance.
    • Pertinax
      So they have been moved away(last twelve months) from their parents down at the bottom end of the Park. I wonder what the future now holds for them? I see that a studbook of (so called) Barbary Lions in zoos which are descended directly from the Moroccan/Rabat Zoo collection has been drawn up. The idea is the zoos with these Lions(which includes Port Lymne) can exchange animals. However I don't know if Port Lympne will go any further with this knowing that even the Rabat Lions aren't believed to be genuine Barbary now. My guess is they'll be happy if another zoo wants to take one or both of these two for breeding with.
    • Mike11
      What fantastic looking Individuals!
      They have been up here some time Pertinax in May 2008 they were allready up in the wooded area and had been for a few months allready.
      Since then they have got alot bigger and their blondy manes have turned alot darker fitting with the 'Barbary image' they have.
    • Pertinax
      You are right- now I remember seeing them here too- in October 2008- I get a bit forgetful nowadays.:rolleyes: It was their litter sister, 'Savanah', which was still with her parents.

      They have certainly grown a lot more since- unfortunately Barbary' image' may actually be an accurate description of them though.
    • Mike11
      No worries Pertinax even my memory is starting to go!
      These where the last Barbary Lions to be born at the Park for the moment.
      I agree with you Pertinax however there is quite a big chance that they do have Barbary in them, they may not be pure but I wouldnt be suprised if they do have Barbary Genes.
    • Jose
      I am no expert but i have never seen lions that resemble the ones at Port lympne , i would imagine there is some babary blood in them , they are alot more heavily built and square jawed then african lions
    • Pertinax
      I read on another thread somewhere that their father 'Suliman' has been castrated. Or is it the other male 'Jabir.' Or is it in fact both of them? There was some comment about their manes falling out as a result. If this is all correct it sounds as if they certainly have stopped breeding for the foreseeable future..
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  • Category:
    Port Lympne Wild Animal Park
    Uploaded By:
    Maguari
    Date:
    1 Dec 2009
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