Officially opened in March 2018, Taronga Western Plains Zoo’s $9 million African Lion Pride Lands exhibit, a replica African Masai village, is a 'roaring' success.
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“The school holiday period has been a brilliant launch for the exhibit and the feedback from our guests has been extremely positive,” zoo director Steve Hinks said.
“With around 20,000 people walking through the gates in that two-week period it is a great testament to how the general public is interested in this great species. It is a really exciting result.
“I was talking to a family from Queensland who had recently been to Africa on a safari and they described this as the best animal experience that they had.
“Given they were able to get so close to the lions through the viewing area, where the lions were just on the other side of the glass, they were literally able to look the lions in the eyes and make an incredible connection with them which they couldn’t even do in Kruger National Park in Africa.
“Every day we see the lions interacting through the glass or running along the fence. It truly is a unique exhibit.”
And it not just the homo sapiens benefiting from the Pride Lands, with the leos also enjoying their new digs.
Every day we see the animals interacting through the glass or running along the fence. It truly is a unique exhibit.
- Steve Hinks, zoo director
“It has given the lions a lot of psychological enrichment as well as physical activity. There is a lot more variety for them given the landscape. It keeps them engaged and mentally stimulated,” Mr Hinks said.
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