Lion returns to Dudley Zoo
Look who's the mane attraction at Dudley Zoo – Asiatic lion Jetpur has made a roaring returned to his birthplace.
The 12-year-old was born at the zoo in 2003 and has spent the past 10 years overseas – at Mulhouse Zoo in France.
But now he's back in the Black Country and bosses are bursting with pride to have a male joining nine-year-old females Kyra and Asha, and hope they will settle well together and breed in time.
Jetpur, who weighs 223kg, made his first appearance out in the hardstanding area of the enclosure at the weekend. Dudley Zoo curator, Richard Brown, said: "Jetpur is settling in well.
"We will be looking to get him into a routine over the next few days and hope to introduce him to Kyra and Asha later in the week. We are quite positive they will get along well," he added.
Jetpur was born on July 6, 2003, and moved to Mulhouse Zoo, in Mulhouse, near Strasbourg on the German and Swiss borders, nearly two years later to form a breeding pair with lioness Sita.
They have had 10 beautiful cubs as part of an international breeding programme. It is hoped Jetpur will continue to breed now he has returned to Dudley.
Section leader, Jay Haywood, said: "Lions eat every other day and Jetpur will have up to 10kg of meat every other day, given to him in joints.
"In between he is given rabbits, quail and chickens and it is also important he eats the bones, feathers and fur in order to keep his internal organs healthy."
