BATTLE CREEK (WTVB-AM) — The new lion exhibit is opening to the public this week at the Binder Park Zoo after a ceremonial ribbon snipping late Monday afternoon.
It’s the animal that has most often been requested at the zoo. The new specially designed compound will open with two female lions. They will be joined by a male next week. They will not be sharing the open savannah that is reserved for less carnivorous species.
Diane Thompson, President and CEO of Binder Park Zoo says they will be sharing a building with their new wild African Dog exhibit, which is right next door. “One of the things we take pride in at Binder Park Zoo is creating naturalistic habitats for our animals. The new African lion and African painted dog exhibits will be dynamic, stimulating, and offer plenty of space for our animals to show their natural behaviors.”
There are only about 25,000 lions left in the world. They are now classified as an endangered species and officials at Binder Park hope one day to develop a breeding program to help the species survive.
– WKZO-AM/FM’s John McNeill contributed to this story.
