Wellington Zoo is working with its counterpart in Auckland to bring new breeding stocks of lions to the capital.
The zoo had its pride dented last month when lioness Mara died from kidney failure, after eating from the same contaminated carcass that killed Sumatran tiger Jambi.
Mara's death left male Sam with
only the elderly 21-year-old Manta for company, and manager Alison Lash said yesterday work on bringing new lions from South Africa had begun.
"They [Auckland Zoo] are working on bringing in some new bloodlines, and we will try to work with them to renew our stock as well."
Meanwhile, Australian-based tiger breeding programme co-ordinator David Pepper-Edwards, of Taronga Zoo in Sydney, says Wellington Zoo may get a new breeding pair of Sumatran tigers in the second half of next year. The future of the remaining tigers, Jambi's mate Cantik and their male offspring Rokan, depends on the needs of the breeding programme.
If required, their homes will be decided by Mr Pepper-Edwards. Otherwise, zoos will be found "where they will be well looked after".
Six tiger cubs have been born at the zoo in the past five years. The lions at Wellington Zoo are not used for breeding but this may change with the introduction of new lions.
- NZPA
