Some more new cuddly animals arrive at Dublin Zoo… but this time it’s two Asian lion cubs
Here are some cute new animals to welcome the weekend. So, how glad were we to see Dublin Zoo offer us some excellent material for a bonus post this morning.
The zoo has welcomed two female lion cubs from France and had photographer Patrick Bolger snap them in their new surroundings yesterday.
In six months time a male lion will be introduced to the habitat as the next part of a significant international breeding programme. But for now the un-named 19-month-old sisters have the recently-developed Asian Forests area to themselves:
Asian lions are critically endangered in the wild with only 400 remaining. The entire wild population of these lions can be found in one place – the Gir Forest in India.
Dublin Zoo’s Asian Forests habitat has taken inspiration from the Indian forest. A very dry forest with a mix of deciduous trees and diverse flora and fauna, the lion habitat reflects this environment and gives the lions necessary diversity to encourage natural behavior as well as breeding.
Team leader Ciaran McMahon said that, “Both cubs are doing fantastic. They are displaying the usual characteristics of young female lions such as sniffing, scent marking and scratching the surrounding trees.”
At 19 months old they are still cubs, which means they are playful, energetic and a little cautious. One of the cubs is slightly more confident than the other. She is more of a dominant leader which is not unusual in a pride of lionesses.
To celebrate their arrival, Dublin Zoo is inviting people to suggest names for the pair of female lions based on their Indian origin. Suggestions will be accepted through the Dublin Zoo Facebook page, email info@dublinzoo.ie or by post.
President Higgins became the 28th Freeman of Galway today
President Michael D Higgins became the 28th Freeman of Galway at a ceremony held in the city earlier this evening.
The President was presented with the Scroll of Freedom
Mayor of Galway, Councillor Hildegarde Naughton, presented the President with the Scroll of Freedom.
She praised his outstanding contribution to the academic, cultural and artistic life of the city and his personal drive towards hope and solidarity.
The event took place six months to the day since the Presidential inauguration.
Three men to appear in Roscommon court over Two stolen tractors
Three men are to appear before a court in Roscommon this evening charged in connection with the theft of plant and agricultural machinery.
Yesterday gardai seized two tractors worth €150,000 as part of the investigation.
Three men, two aged in their 40s and in his 20s, were arrested.
They will appear before the court at 9.30pm
No comments:
Post a Comment