AFRICAN LION

AT THE ZOO

We have seven lions living in Big Cat Falls.

Zenda: Female, born at the Johannesburg Zoo on July 10, 1991. She arrived at the Zoo from South Africa in 1993. She is tawny in color. Due to her advanced age, she stays separate from the youngsters, Makini and Tajiri.

Makini: Male, born at the Tulsa Zoo & Living Museum in Oklahoma on March 24, 2009. He arrived at the Zoo on December 16, 2011. His name means “dignity” in Swahili.

Tajiri: Female, born at the Racine Zoo in Wisconsin on March 16, 2010. She arrived at the Zoo on January 25, 2012. Her name means “rich” in Swahili.

Makini and Tajiri are the proud parents of four cubs, born on June 25 and 26, 2014. You can tell them apart by their dye marks: Kataba currently has marks on the right front paw, Mali has no dye marks, Msinga has three stripes on her right hip, and Sabi has a mark on both hind paws. The dye marks fade over time and must be reapplied regularly, so this can change on occasion.

Enrichment

First Niagara Big Cat Falls offers enrichment opportunities by design. Big cats can explore other cat habitats, pick up on the scents present, and mark territory. Boxes, piñatas, and scratching posts all make excellent enrichment toys. These are often sprinkled with scents to make it more interesting for the lions.

Viewing Hints

The lion habitat at Big Cat Falls is a fantastic viewing area. You can stand face to face with the lions behind a huge glass window. The lions like to lay and play near the window.