By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
When Boss, a male lion at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo, had to be euthanized in 2016, zoo staff brought in two younger female lions from Florida to form a pride for Luke, the remaining male lion at the zoo. For years, the plan was to have the three lions share the exhibit. After a more aggressive interaction than wanted between Luke and the two females in 2021, zoo staff decided to keep them separated and take turns on which animals are out in the yard.
Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo Curator Ashley Burdick said work has started
to create a second exhibit so all the lions can be out to view at the same
time.
"This way everyone can be out at the same time," said Burdick. "The girls will be in a separate yard from Luke. That's our next big project we have in the works right now."
Luke is 10 years old and the two female lions are six years old. Zoo staff tried
multiple steps to introduce Luke with his new companions, but the 2021
interaction saw Luke circle the girls in an aggressive behavior.
Burdick was
thankful for what the Great Bend Zoological Society does to enhance the zoo.
"The Zoological Society helps us purchase some of things we don't have room for in our regular budget that we get from the city," said Burdick. "They recently helped redo our playground. They're going to help us with the lion yard. In the past, they bought us an industrial fridge. They help us with those extras that we don't have."
While working out the logistics of a second lion exhibit, Burdick also
mentioned the zoo will hopefully be receiving a pair of new animals in August.