Adopt: Saffiya

Species: Barbary/Atlas Lion

Location: Port Lympne

Gender: Female

Date of Birth: 27/07/1999

About Saffiya: Saffiya is very affectionate towards those that she bonded with as a cub and she still likes to come to the fence for a stroke from her keepers. She has turned out to be a great mother - probably the best of all the big cats at Port Lympne, but can be very stubborn.

Saffiya’s mother deserted her at two weeks of age so she was hand raised by a keeper. She gave birth to 2 cubs on 8th June 2007. They are possibly both female, although it is unknown for sure until their first vaccinations at 8 weeks old. They have been spotted at the entrance to their den, getting ready to take their first steps into the big wide world. Saffiya is also Samira’s mother.

Adopt: Samira

Species: Barbary/Atlas Lion

Location: Port Lympne

Gender: Female

Date of Birth: 10/07/2003

About Samira: Samira is very friendly, but can be quite naughty. If she thinks she is not allowed to do something she will keep trying to do it.

Samira was accidentally injured when she was 4 days old and had to be hand reared by her keepers. Samira lived with one of her keepers until she was able to move around easily on her own. She was very vocal as a cub and earned the name Samira which means ‘talks a lot’ in Arabic. Samira’s therapy for her injuries including electrotherapy and hydrotherapy has been shown around the world in various media. Samira has been joined in her enclosure by her two brothers Moonlight and Milo.

Adopt: Suliman

Species: Barbary/Atlas Lion

Location: Port Lympne

Gender: Male

Date of Birth: 01/01/2001

About Suliman: Suliman is very friendly, gentle and affectionate. He loves attention and likes to be scratched.

Suliman was born at Rabat Zoo in Morroco and he is very excitable. He is very good with his cubs and is often seen playing with them and his mate Saffiya. There are only about 70 or 80 of this particular sub-species of lion in the world today - all in zoos. The Aspinall Foundation are involved in a project to return this sub-species of lions to the Atlas Mountains in Morroco. At night his booming call carries out across the Romney Marsh. Saffiya, Suliman’s mate has just given birth to 2 cubs on 8th June 2007, possibly both female. Suliman is proving himself to be quite a prolific breeder which is good for the conservation plan for this species.

Adopt A Lion Today!