Rotorua's Paradise Valley Springs Wildlife Park is losing a valued friend and personality but staff say he'll enjoy his new life in Indonesia.
Ben is a 180kg, 4-year-old lion born and raised in Rotorua and has been chosen by zoo curator Tim Husband to become a breeding lion at his newpark in Indonesia.
Mr Husband is curator at the Bali Safari and Marine Park and was in Rotorua on a special assignment, to bring Ben to Indonesia to breed with two lionesses there.
"We have a couple of lionesses from Japan and have been looking for a breeding male, but not just any old male, we are looking for quality."
Mr Husband said Ben was a quality breeding male who was "solid in body and had a good mane".
Originally from Whangarei, Mr Husband's work has seen him back in New Zealand recently helping to investigate the death of a worker at Zion Wildlife Gardens.
He said his latest visit was for a much better reason.
"Not all zoos have good quality lions, they are actually quite hard to find, but I think Ben will fit in really well."
Mr Husband said Ben would be joining four other lions at the park.
Paradise Valley Springs Wildlife Park owner Stuart Hamlett said Ben would be sorely missed by staff and the park's seven remaining lions, but he would visit him at his new home.
"They are all very special to us, it is a personal thing."
He said Mr Husband was a highly respected curator and was certain Ben would be looked after well.
When it comes to value, Mr Hamlett said reputable zoos and wildlife parks did not pay for their animals because as soon as money was involved people became greedy.
"The organisation we belong to make sure the recipients [of animals] pay for transportation costs."
Mr Hamlett said Rotorua would also benefit from Ben's departure as the park was going to make a donation to a local conservation project for Mt Tarawera.
"This donation will go to a pest management programme on Mt Tarawera looking to control wallabies, possums, stoats, cats and rats in particular," Mr Hamlett said.
