I'm sure there is someone who knows more than I do about this on here, but I'll have a stab. Samira was crippled by her father carrying her in her mouth as a cub. I'm not exactly sure what her impairment is, but she has very little functionality in one of her hind limbs. I think she has had two litters and was previously with two other lions at the top of the park. I don't know what sparked the move to this enclosure by the elephant accommodation, but it is very recent. We were told that they are happy with the size of the fence and enclosure given her condition. They must be completely confident it is safe for her to be in there!
That wooden fence "holding" her? Even with a impaired leg, that does not look very safe for keeping a lion at all.
That's a very tempting knee jerk reaction, but I think it should be remembered that zoo staff are professionals who take their jobs seriously. I'm not saying that people don't make mistakes, but I am saying if the potential mistake looks this obvious they must be certain it's okay.
I think I can see mesh higher than the wooden railings... I believe the quite severe nerve damage was sustained to a foreleg rather than a hindleg. When I watched her some years back she seemed to have to move in a circular motion and was quite noticeably handicapped. I would think climbing isn't possible for her so that this is safe- if unusual. I hadn't realised she has had cubs.
Oh, my apologies then, I had not known that the damage was in the front leg instead of the hind leg It would make climbing out a very difficult and very painful procedure for her.
