LIONS

Zambi, the namesake of ZAMBI Wildlife Retreat, was the first lion cub raised at the retreat after her mother rejected her.

These magnificent big cats have their own stories, having come to ZAMBI from varied situations.

The ZAMBI lions live in a serene environment in spacious habitats designed for the species' welfare needs. They live in enclosures that feature grassy areas, shaded spots, elevated platforms, and waterholes. The grassy areas provide a soft terrain for them to roam and rest, while the shady trees offer relief from the sun, much like the acacia trees in their native habitats.

Elevated platforms allow the lions to survey their surroundings, fulfilling their instinctual need to keep watch over their territory. At ZAMBI Wildlife Retreat, our lions have enrichment activities that stimulate their natural behaviours, ensuring they remain active and engaged.

In the wild, lions are considered vulnerable due to habitat loss and fragmentation, illegal wildlife trade, and human-wildlife conflicts. African lions used to be spread across most of the continent, but now they live on only around 8% of the land they used to occupy.

Lions are the most social of the big cats and live in family groups called prides. Prides are made of dominant males with large manes and related females with cubs.