There’s a new lion in town and he weighs nearly 500 pounds. Meet Kalu, the Detroit Zoo’s newest member of its pride.
The 9-year old male African lion just arrived from the Tulsa, Oklahoma Zoo as a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to support his social needs and future breeding efforts.
A spokesperson from the Detroit Zoo says Kalu is described by his caretakers as a confident and charismatic lion who thoroughly enjoys his meals and engaging with enrichment.
“We are thrilled to welcome Kalu to the Detroit Zoo where we know he will thrive and be a fantastic ambassador for lions in the wild,” Sarah Culton, Communications Manager from the Detroit Zoo told MLive.
Along with Kalu, the Detroit Zoo is home to two female lions: Asha and Amirah. They arrived at the Zoo in 2019.
The Detroit Zoo said goodbye to its first lion cub born there since 1980, Binti, back in October, who went to another zoo as part of the Species Survival Plan.
Binti was born on September 10, 2020 to Simba and Asha. Simba was transferred to a zoo in South Dakota earlier this year via the SSP.
