News Release

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San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance 
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NEWS RELEASE

San Diego Zoo Safari Park Welcomes Male Lion  

SAN DIEGO (May 17, 2023) – The San Diego Zoo Safari Park has welcomed a new lion to the pride: Bo, a 7-year-old male African lion. Earlier today, Bo curiously explored his new home at the Lion Camp habitat, showing confidence as he became comfortable in his new surroundings. Bo will eventually lead his own pride when he is introduced to the three female lions who reside at Lion Camp—Malika, Zuri and Amira. 

Bo moved to the Safari Park from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, following a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) for African lions, which is designed to help maintain a healthy, genetically diverse assurance population of this species.  

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species lists the African lion as a Vulnerable species, with a total population that is likely less than 40,000. IUCN estimates that there are only 23,000 to 39,000 mature individuals. African lion populations are declining largely due to habitat loss, issues that threaten human-wildlife coexistence, poaching and wildlife trafficking (illegal wildlife trade).  

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance supports lion conservation in Kenya by supporting and collaborating with community organizations, Ewaso Lions and Northern Rangelands Trust, recognizing that the conservation of lions has to be reconciled with the needs of humans. Some challenges may be unavoidable in areas where agriculture or livestock compete with lion habitats, but together, people are working on finding ways to minimize these issues. Working with lions living at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and the San Diego Zoo helps San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance conservation scientists learn more about the needs of lions in their native habitats, and help lions in Africa.  

Guests are invited to visit Bo, who will rotate on and off habitat with the lionesses until all four lions are comfortable interacting together. Every visit to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park helps San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance take another step toward achieving its mission of saving animals and plants worldwide, and creating a world where all life thrives.  

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About San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is a nonprofit international conservation leader, committed to inspiring a passion for nature and working toward a world where all life thrives. The Alliance empowers people from around the globe to support their mission to conserve wildlife through innovation and partnerships. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance supports cutting-edge conservation and brings the stories of their work back to the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park—giving millions of guests, in person and virtually, the opportunity to experience conservation in action. The work of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance extends from San Diego to eco-regional conservation “hubs” across the globe, where their expertise and assets—including the renowned Wildlife Biodiversity Bank—are able to effectively align with hundreds of regional partners to improve outcomes for wildlife in more coordinated efforts. By leveraging these skills in wildlife care and conservation science, and through collaboration with hundreds of partners, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has reintroduced more than 44 endangered species to native habitats. Each year, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s work reaches over 1 billion people in 150 countries via news media, social media, their websites, educational resources and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers television programming, which is in children’s hospitals in 13 countries. Success is made possible by the support of members, donors and guests to the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, who are Wildlife Allies committed to ensuring all life thrives.