THE ROAR IS BACK
AT THE BIOPARK ZOO
The throaty roar of a lion returned to Albuquerque this week.
But the voice may sound a little different this time.
A pair of young African lions — a brother and sister from San Diego — arrived at the BioPark zoo this week and visitors can expect them on display some time next week.
Ken and Dixie are about 2½ years old — “troublesome teenagers” or even pre-teens in the lifespan of a lion, said Tammy Schmidt, the BioPark’s curator of mammals. They are resting behind the scenes for now after arriving early Thursday.
“We’re letting them ease into everything,” Schmidt said.
Mayor Richard Berry announced the arrival of the young lions Friday morning. The zoo’s last lion — Cosmo, whose roar could be heard Downtown for years — died about six months ago.
Schmidt said it won’t be long before Ken offers his own roar to the ambience in Albuquerque’s Barelas area, where the BioPark zoo is located.
Lions “all have different octaves,” Schmidt said in an interview. “His may not be as deep yet.”
Ken and Dixie are on loan from the San Diego Zoo, but they’re expected to live in New Mexico for years. They’re part of a breeding program to promote conservation of African lions, so one or both might leave eventually if there’s a good genetic match with another lion
elsewhere.
“Lions are doing very well in zoos,” Schmidt said.
In the meantime, visitors can watch them mature into adults. Their exhibit received a facelift, and there are toys for them to play with.
“We’re going to let them grow up a bit,” Schmidt said.
Ken already weighs in at nearly 400 pounds, and Dixie is about 220.
They have a beef-heavy diet that could push Ken to about 550 pounds and Dixie to 330 at adulthood.
Two donors, John and Pat Kneen, longtime supporters of the BioPark, covered the $3,500 transportation cost of bringing the duo here. John died in November.