Welcome Abuto!

Thanks to everyone who has come out this week to welcome our new male lion, Abuto. We thought you might like to know a bit more about our new star, so today’s blog is all about Abuto!

When he was born at the Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, AZ on July 28, 2011, animal keepers didn’t know he was there. As they reported on their Facebook page, “It was several days after Kaya (his mother) gave birth that we finally got a good look into the cubbing den. The third cub, another male, was a total surprise to us!” Because of this, they gave him a special name, which means "hidden."

At 350 pounds, it’s hard NOT to notice him now.

Abuto is curious and laid-back. He enjoys all kinds of enrichment, toys and training. This week, during his 10:30 a.m. enrichment, guests have hooted, giggled and smiled with delight. Watching him pounce on a zebra-striped barrel, bat at a large made-for-a-lion ball suspended from the ceiling, and lick tasty lion treats off the inside of a hollow log, is captivating. During the enrichment demonstrations and keeper talks, many guests have asked how Abuto got to our Zoo.

He arrived on the Colorado mountainside in January. Staff members stood outside in the snow and waited for the “king.” An extended-sized van pulled up around 9 p.m.

They gathered around as the door opened. Inside, a steel crate filled the entire back of the vehicle . Looking at it, you’d never know that it contained a lion – until it roared. The van rocked slightly from side to side as Abuto moved around. The six staff members transferred the crate out of the van and into the building.

Abuto spent the next few months in the Zoo’s quarantine building getting comfortable with his animal keepers while the new Encounter Africa lion building was being finished. Just a few weeks ago, he was moved to the new space.

On Monday and Tuesday, our Zoo’s four lionesses will join Abuto. At first, a mesh barrier will allow them to have protected “howdy” time, and once comfortable, they will be allowed more free contact with each other.

All five lions are scheduled to be introduced to their new Encounter Africa outdoor exhibit for the first time on July 4. Until then, you can look for our lion pride in the indoor “day room” of their new building - Abuto is the handsome one with the growing mane.