The attraction opened its $9 million Lion Pride Lands precinct on Wednesday.

The joint venture between the NSW government and the Taronga Conservation Society of Australia is the largest investment in an animal exhibit in the zoo’s history.

Visitors got up close to the big cats – safely, behind special glass – as they explored their new home.

The 3.8-hectare precinct is the first major change to the zoo circuit since its opening.

At the ceremony zoo and government figures spoke of the boost the exhibit would provide to both conservation and the region’s tourism.

Taronga Conservation Society Australia chief executive and director Cameron Kerr paid tribute to zookeepers, who were “making this wonderful place operate and become a global zoo”.

“And I do genuinely believe Taronga Western Plains Zoo has a big place on the map in America right now and soon that will be around the world,” he said.

“We’ll be noted for the work you are doing here.”

Mr Kerr said with as few as 20,000 lions remaining in the wild, to have a pride of eight at the zoo was a privilege.

It was a tragedy to see the lion population decline by 43 per cent in the past 21 years due to their habitat becoming increasingly fragmented, he said.

“Through the journey of this precinct, guests can see the power of lions as an apex predator and better understand the relationship between humans and lions in the wild.”

Dubbo MP Troy Grant said the new exhibit would draw more people to the region.

“The Lion Pride Lands really does set the bar for a world-class zoo experience and it will inspire people to connect with lions and their plight in the wild,” he said.

Environment minister Gabrielle Upton said the zoo had a record for breeding conservation and guest experience excellence.

“The investment in Lion Pride Lands from the NSW government will reinforce the importance of tourism in regional NSW, and help draw more people to this region, who are eager to experience everything the central west has to offer,” she said.