TULSA -- A new male African lion has joined the Tulsa Zoo.
The lion, Kalu, has started the introductory process at the zoo and will eventually join lioness Shatari on exhibit.
“After spending several days forming bonds with animal care staff behind-the-scenes, we plan to start allowing Kalu access to the lion exhibit,” says Curator of Mammals Jordan Piha. “Both lions will be able to see and smell one another, as Shatari will be in the other large cat grotto, where the tigers used to live. We will look to their behavior for cues about when they are ready to meet.”
Kalu was born in 2015 at the Denver Zoo. He will be a companion to Shatari, 16, following the loss ot male African lion Kofi in Nov. 2017 to an age-related illness.
African lions are the second-largest living cats, with some males weighing more than 400 pounds. They are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List because of poaching and habitat loss.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
Download our free app for Apple and Android and Kindle devices.
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Daily Headlines and Daily Forecasts.
