Taronga Western Plains Zoo’s new exhibit, Lion Pride Lands, is home to eight African lions.
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Lazarus
Lazarus is an adult male, born in 2002, who weighs 185 kilograms.
He came to Taronga Western Plains Zoo from Auckland Zoo in September 2012. Lazarus grew up as an orphan cub and was hand raised in the Western Cape province of South Africa, before moving to New Zealand at 12 months of age. He has sired two litters of offspring at Taronga Western Plains Zoo; three cubs born in February 2015, and four cubs born in November 2016, both to mother Maya.
The head of this pride, Lazarus is valuable for the African lion’s breeding program and enjoys the company of Maya and his four male cubs.
Maya
Maya is an adult female, born in February 2011, who weighs 130kg.
She arrived at the zoo in February 2014, also from South Africa. She has given birth to two litters of cubs at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, including Makeba, Zuri and Baako, and four male cubs born in November 2016.
Maya is a laid back lioness who can be spotted playing with her two daughters and four sons.
Zuri
Zuri is a sub adult female, who was born in 2015 and weighs 125kg.
Along with her sister Makeba and brother Baako (now at Mogo Zoo), she was the first African lion cub to be born at Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Zuri means beautiful in Swahili. She is known for her confidence in the pride, and along with Makeba, enjoys playing with the four male cubs (her younger brothers).
Makeba
A sub adult female, Makeba, weighs 125kg and was born in 2015. Makeba is an African name meaning ‘greatness’. Makeba is a quirky lioness and is known to be a little more reserved than her sister, Zuri.
Bakari, Karoo, Virunga and Sheru
Four male juveniles, Bakari, Karoo, Virunga and Sheru, were born to mother Maya and father Lazarus in November 2016.
They each have a strong bond, not only with each other as siblings, but with their older sisters, Makeba and Zuri.
They can be spotted interacting and playing with Maya, as well as Lazarus, who exerts his fatherly discipline with a gentle tail whack from time to time.
Bakari, Karoo, Virunga and Sheru continue to grow in confidence and form a special part of the cohesive family unit that is the lion pride at Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
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