One male, Merlin, and three females, Zenda, Jezebel, and Vinkel, make up the Zoo's pride of lions. All four arrived at the Zoo in 1993 from the Johannesburg Zoo in South Africa. Merlin, Zenda, and Jezebel were littermates born at the Johannesburg Zoo on July 10, 1991. Vinkel was born at the Johannesburg Zoo on July 12, 1991.

Merlin: Tawny in color, full mane and weighs over 400 lbs.

Zenda: Tawny in color.

Jezebel: White in color and , along with Vinkel, were the first white lions exhibited in the United States.

Vinkel: White in color; in 1994 gave birth to Tandi, the first white lion cub to be born in the United States.

All white lions in captivity are believed to be descended from the white lions found only in the Timbavati Game Preserve in Kruger National Park, South Africa.

Enrichment

Bank of America 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.

Click here to learn more about the Philadelphia Zoo’s conservation efforts to protect animals around the world »

Fun Facts

African lions live in . . . Africa, of course! They range from south of the Sahara Desert all the way to South Africa, excluding the Congo.

Their habitat is varied, and is anything from the rich grasslands of east Africa to the sands of the Kalahari Desert. They can live at high altitudes – as high as 16,400 ft. – or at sea level, and anywhere in between!

African lions will usually live on average 13 years in the Zoo. Just like there are some people who live longer, though, there are some lions that can live to be as old as 30 years! Researchers are still studying the many things that affect their lifespan. Hey, future researchers, maybe that’s something YOU will discover one day!

The African Lion may be King of the Beasts, but they are in great danger from their only enemy: HUMANS. Humans can be the solution, though! Find out how you can help African lions.

Male African lions are HUGE! They can weigh anywhere from 330-550 lbs! That’s a lot bigger than the females, who can weigh 130-250 lbs.

In the wild, African lions eat wildebeests, antelope, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, buffalo, rodents, hares, small birds and reptiles, and carrion. In the Zoo, African lions eat solid and ground beef and knucklebones.

Using some serious GIRL POWER, that’s how! Unlike all other felines, lions hunt in groups – and guess who does the hunting? The lionesses! The females hunt together by stalking and creeping towards their prey, then rushing and leaping at it. They kill larger prey by cutting off their air with one bite to the throat! So, while the lionesses are hunting, where’s Dad? He's standing nearby, waiting for them to finish the hard work before he jumps in and takes over!

Here are some way cool facts about lions that might surprise you . . .

•  Two features set lions aside from all other felines: (1) they are the only feline that shows sexual dimorphism (die-morf-ism), or differences between the males and females that are easy to see (males have that great big mane, but females don’t); (2) they are very social, and live in prides with 4-37 other lions!
• The dark spots on a lion’s muzzle are unique to each lion, like a fingerprint on a human.
• The lion’s mane is all for show! Research shows that lionesses prefer males with dark manes; also, other male lions will avoid rivals with darker, longer manes!
• Cubs are too weak to compete with adults at a kill, and often starve to death if prey is scarce. Poor cubs!

Conservation

Hey kids! African lions are in danger! The Philadelphia Zoo is trying to save them, and we need your help! Keep reading to find out what we’ve done so far, and to find out how YOU can help save the African lion!

Farmers in Africa use the same land to graze their cattle that lions use to hunt. Sometimes the lions resort to eating the farmers’ cattle if they’re really hungry and can’t find other food. This makes the farmers angry, and they kill the lions to stop them.

Imagine having a lion in your backyard. Could you learn to live with it? Cattle and other livestock (like goats) are very important to many farmers in Africa. For them, these animals are sources of food, money, and social status among their neighbors. Instead of having the lions drive out the farmers, or the farmers kill off the lions; they need to be able to find a way to live together.

The Philadelphia Zoo is supporting researchers in Kenya working on the Laikipia (Lie-kip-ee-uh) Predator Project. Some staff members from the Philadelphia Zoo have traveled to Kenya to help out!

A wild lion pride in Africa napping under a tree. They are wearing radio collars so researchers can track them.

The people working on the Laikipia Predator Project are studying the lions and educating the farmers. The farmers are learning that the lions are an important part of Africa’s wildlife. They are also learning how to protect their cattle from the lions. They are making "bomas" to protect their cattle. 

A boma is a very strong, well-made fence. It protects the cattle from the lions, so the farmers don’t have to worry about their herd. This allows the lions and farmers to share their habitat peacefully.

Yes! Many people care very much about the African lions, and want to help them. In 2005, the Great Cats and Rare Canids Act was introduced. Great cats and rare canids include lions, cheetahs, African wild dogs, maned wolves, and more. This act gives money and support to try and save endangered animals. Find out more about this act and how you can write to your senator and representative.

There is so much that you can do to help! Here are a few things:

• Research African lions. Check out our book recommendations, and look for other books on African lions at your local library. When you come to the Philadelphia Zoo, talk to the staff and docents by the lions’ habitat! They have a lot of information to share! Ask questions about the lions at our Zoo and the lions in Kenya! The more you know about them, the more you can tell other people. Education and knowledge are the most . important tools!
• When you come to see the new big cat exhibit, bring some quarters for the cats! You can put them into the coin machine at Base Camp. That money goes to the researchers in Kenya so they can continue to help the lions and the farmers.
• Just like the farmers in Africa are learning to live with the lions, you can learn to live with the wildlife in your neighborhood, too! Here’s how you can get started:
  • When you see litter on the ground, pick it up (make sure it's not sharp!) and throw it into a trashcan or recycle bin.
  • If you have trashcans that stay outside, make sure they are always tightly covered so that they don’t attract wildlife.
  • These are only a few things — find out some more easy ways that YOU can protect wildlife and the environment.
• Researchers gain knowledge through observation – you can, too! Observe the wildlife that you see in your neighborhood. Observation is the most important part of research! Not sure how to get started or what to look for? Check out our tips!

Introductions

Merlin is pretty easy to spot among the other three — he's the big one with the beautiful mane! His birthday is July 10, and he was born in 1991. He weighs nearly 400 lbs!

Zenda is the darkest female lion — she's called "tawny colored."

Jezebel and Vinkel are our white lions. How can you tell them apart? It's all in the ears! Jezebel's ears are round, and Vinkel's are pointier. Vinkel also has much thicker fur around her neck. These two arrived at the Philadelphia Zoo together, from the Johannesburg Zoo in South Africa.

Jezebel, Vinkel, and Zenda are all trained to voluntarily get their annual shots, just like the cat you might have at home! This makes it much easier for them, their keepers, and their veterinarian.

The lions' keepers give them plenty of toys — these toys are called "enrichment." They love to play with boxes, piñatas, and scratching posts. These are often sprinkled with scents to make it more interesting for the lions. Can you guess what Merlin's favorite is? Lavender!

The lions get to learn how to use an overhead tunnel system so they can trade exhibits with the other big cats. They love this, because they get to smell all sorts of new smells and explore a whole new habitat!

Animal Lingo

In Kenya, where the Philadelphia Zoo's African lion conservation project link to "Laikipia Predator Project" is, many of the people speak a language called Swahili (swa-hee-lee). If you’ve seen The Lion King, you already know some Swahili words (Hint: look at "lion" and "friend")! Practice saying these words, then teach your friends, family, and teachers how to say hello in a new language!

Want More?

Want to know more about lions? You can probably find these non-fiction books about lions at your local library!

Lions by Cherie Winter
This book is perfect if you want to know the facts about lions: where they live, what they eat, how they raise their cubs, and more! There are amazing pictures of lions in their natural habitats!

Lions in Danger by Helen Orme
This book will give you information about how lions live AND about their endangerment! It tells about conservation of lions, and has some great ideas about how YOU can help, too!

Baby Lion by Aubrey Lang
Lion cubs are in danger from the moment they are born because they are so small and weak. Read this book to discover how baby lions learn to protect themselves and live happily with the pride.

The Good Lion by Beryl Markham
This is an autobiography, or a story that someone has written about an event that really happened in his or her life. You will love this amazing story about a girl who lives in Kenya that meets a "tame" lion. Can a lion really be tame, though? Check this book out from your local library to find out what Beryl discovered when she was your age!

Lions can be found in fiction, too. The lions in these books aren't real, but they sure are loveable!

Lion's Share by Chris Conover
Can you imagine living in a world without books? This is the story of a very special lion prince who lives in a world that has everything he could ask for – except books. He travels to a near-by kingdom and meets a king who teaches him how to read. You’ll love reading about his excitement when he discovers books in this funny, sweet story. Check this book out from your local library to find out how it ends!

Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen
What if a lion walked in to your local library? That’s just what happens in this book! Mrs. Merriweather, the head librarian, lets the lion stay, as long as he doesn’t break any rules. The lion can't help but misbehave a little, though, by roaring loudly when story time ends. All of the adults and children come to love the lion, except for Mr. McBee, who works at the circulation desk and does not want a lion in the library! One day, Mrs. Merriweather falls and hurts herself, and the lion roars loudly for help. People come running, and even though he saved Mrs. Merriweather, the lion is very upset that he broke the rules and decides to leave. When he doesn't come back to the library, everyone misses him, even Mr. McBee. Check this book out from your local library to find out how it ends!

The Happy Lion by Louise Fatio
A friendly lion in a small French zoo enjoys the visits of the townspeople who stop by each day to say "Bonjour, Happy Lion." So one day, when the zookeeper forgets to close the lion's door, the Happy Lion decides to return the visits to all the nice people of the town. To his amazement, as he strolls through the town his friends scream and run from him, the police and fire brigade are called, and people cower in their shops or houses. How will a child save the day? Check this book out from your local library to find out how it ends!

You don't have to stop here!! There is so much to know about lions. Don't be afraid to ask the librarians at your local library to show you where you can find even more books about lions. As you research, you will discover that scientists still have a lot to learn. Maybe one day YOU will discover something new about lions!