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Guests visiting the Greenville Zoo will now have the opportunity to meet its newest residents, two male African lions. Arriving last week from the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC on a breeding loan recommendation from the American Zoo and Aquarium Association's (AZA's) Species Survival Plan (SSP) program, the 2-year-old half-brothers Chuma and Saied underwent a routine physical before making their public debut.�Chuma and Saied have adjusted extremely well to their new environment,� said Greenville Zoo Director Jeff Bullock. �The pair are young and extremely energetic, and zoo guests will enjoy watching them play and showing off their individual personalities.� The zoo�s last exhibited lions were not part of the cooperative breeding program and recently moved back to their original home at the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo in Thurmont, Md. As part of the zoo�s conscious effort to increase participation in captive breeding efforts, the decision was made to take the available space and use it for animals that are part of an effort to maintain a genetically diverse population of captive animals for many years to come. Though currently not considered endangered, the wild population of African lions has dwindled over the last two decades, making conservation efforts very important to the survival of the species. According to Greenville Zoo Director Jeff Bullock, the lions will continue to grow and mature at the Greenville Zoo until the time comes when they need to be paired with a female. �The zoo will work closely with the SSP to determine when the Greenville Zoo should start its own pride,� said Bullock. �This is a great opportunity for the zoo to help create a promising future for a species that is sharply declining in the wild.� (Image provided by the Greenville Zoo.)
Looking for more happenings in the area? Check out Greenville.com's comprehensive visitor center.
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