The
Racine Zoo's two lions Aslan and Azizi (shown above) are set to start
mating later this year. If all goes as planned, there could be little
cubs again at the zoo soon, staff said. Photos submitted by the Racine
Zoo.
RACINE — Love is in the air at the Racine Zoo and new baby
animals could be making their first appearances into the world later
this year.
The zoo’s lions have taken to each other, said Theresa Donarski, the Racine Zoo’s curator of conservation and animal care.
The zoo also is planning to try to mate its female and male lions this year.
In October 2012, the Racine Zoo received a new lioness from Tucson, Ariz. Now Azizi is nearing her third birthday, which is about the age lionesses can start reproducing, Donarski said.
For this type of mating, she said the zoo worked closely with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to make the best genetic matches. Racine’s male lion Aslan, who is about 9, has already “sired” two litters — a litter of two and a litter of four — and is a grandfather.
He is also significant because his grandparents were caught in the wild, Donarski said.
The two lions have not yet been caged together because they are not supposed to breed until the time is appropriate and the lioness is mature enough, she said. But “they have been mesh to mesh” where they were able to rub next to each other, she said and “they were really fond of each other.”
The zoo even created a special mesh door made of welded wire so they could see each other when one was outside, she said.
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The zoo’s lions have taken to each other, said Theresa Donarski, the Racine Zoo’s curator of conservation and animal care.
The zoo also is planning to try to mate its female and male lions this year.
In October 2012, the Racine Zoo received a new lioness from Tucson, Ariz. Now Azizi is nearing her third birthday, which is about the age lionesses can start reproducing, Donarski said.
For this type of mating, she said the zoo worked closely with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to make the best genetic matches. Racine’s male lion Aslan, who is about 9, has already “sired” two litters — a litter of two and a litter of four — and is a grandfather.
He is also significant because his grandparents were caught in the wild, Donarski said.
The two lions have not yet been caged together because they are not supposed to breed until the time is appropriate and the lioness is mature enough, she said. But “they have been mesh to mesh” where they were able to rub next to each other, she said and “they were really fond of each other.”
The zoo even created a special mesh door made of welded wire so they could see each other when one was outside, she said.
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