WIN TICKETS FOR A DAY OUT AT BLAIR DRUMMOND PARK
Blair Drummond Safari Park’s adorable lion cubs are full of play, to the delight of drive-through visitors.
Born in July last year, the cubs celebrated their first birthday last Sunday and keep the rest of the pride busy with relentless play, practising their stalking skills.
The pride now stands at eight. At the top of the pride is Zulu, a male who moved to the safari park in February 2016 from Emmen Zoo in the Netherlands. Zulu was an essential swap with Blair Drummond’s old male, Dudley, in order to increase genetic diversity and avoid direct line breeding in the European breeding programme.
The park has three mature lionesses: Teekay, Libby and Karis. Karis is the mother of four cubs. Having four cubs in a litter is fairly uncommon – typically the litter would be two or three cubs.
After a public poll, the cubs were named Reid, Murray, Thistle and Isla. Reid and Murray were named after the two Scottish tennis aces, Gordon Reid and Andy Murray, both of whom are defending their titles at Wimbledon this month.
African lions are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. A recent estimate suggests approximately 30,000 African Lions remain in the wild. Increasing diversity in captivity as well as continuing research with both wild and captive populations is therefore essential. This, combined with ongoing support of wildlife projects and ‘in-situ’conservation, will allow the safari park to help safeguard this amazing species from extinction.
The Stirling Observer has teamed up with Blair Drummond Safari Park again this season to offer the chance every week of winning a family pass.
Just answer the following question: What is the name of the male lion who moved to the safari park in Feburary 2016? Send your answers along with your name, address and contact number to: Safari Park Competition, Stirling Observer, 34 Upper Craigs, Stirling FK8 2DW. Deadline is Monday, July 17 at 4pm.
The winner of last week’s competition was Mrs D Gemmell of Bogside, Dunblane.