2 rescued lion brothers have moved into a brand new lion house at the Isle of Wight Zoo on Sandown seafront.
Complete with a heated sleeping area, the new accommodation also features specially reinforced full-height windows which allow the public incredibly privileged, close-up views when Kumba and Vigo are not enjoying the outdoors.
Vigo and Kumba were brought to the zoo last year after being saved from a Spanish circus where they spent most of their lives cooped up together in a lorry trailer. When they were young they were neutered, beaten and their claws were cruelly and painfully removed.
Since the boys’ arrival, The Wildheart Trust – which operates the zoo – has been working on fundraising and sponsorship to develop the new supersized accommodation especially to accommodate the lions’ extraordinary size because although the early neutering prevented the growth of manes it did not limit the pair’s physical size.
The zoo’s Animal Manager Marc Fox said:
“After such an unfortunate start to their lives, we are so pleased to be able to provide Kumba and Vigo with really modern, comfortable and engaging new accommodation. They will now have a stimulating environment which caters for all of their needs, whilst offering visitors to the zoo an awe-inspiring immersive experience when they come nose to nose with these two gentle giants.
“The new house offers fantastic views of the brothers when they are relaxing in their indoor quarters or taking small chunks of meat from their new on-show feeding hatches.
“Outside they will be able to spend time exploring the new landscaping, or sitting up on their raised platforms to survey their new territory. Keepers will offer a variety of different enrichment methods to help keep them stimulated, ensuring that for the rest of their lives they have a really good quality of life.”
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Now the zoo is encouraging people to come and welcome the lions into their new house as every visit raises vital funds for their ongoing care. It costs approximately £12,000 to look after each lion for 1 year.
Construction company Willmott Dixon generously donated their skills and labour for the design and build of the new house which has significantly reduced the cost of the project for the zoo and, in the run-up to Christmas, the zoo appealed for people to make a donation towards much needed new home equipment as a socially conscious gift for a loved one or friend.
Speaking about their generous support and hard work to construct the new lion house, Willmott Dixon said:
“Willmott Dixon were absolutely thrilled to be involved in such a special project. Our people provided a substantial amount of their own time and skills to the project. Their passion along with the valued support of our Supply Chain Partners made this project possible. The values held by the Isle of Wight Zoo are closely aligned with our own and it was a privilege to play a role in providing a new home for Kumba and Vigo.”
More details can be found online at www.isleofwightzoo.com.
They should be In the wide not in a zoo i know they are well looked after but it’s not natural for them
Of course, but these guys were raised in a circus and had to be rescued, they are not suitable for release. Even if they were lion numbers have dwindled from 200,000 to an 20,000 in the last few decades- where would you put them?
Wild animals are no longer safe in the wild because of disgusting human beings hunting them. Need huge zoo and safari parks .
In the wild
They have been captive all their lives so sadly probably wouldn’t survive in the wild.
Meant to say – that the main photo is such a lovely picture of them
Agree Ally, but they have had their claws removed, and have been in the unfortunate company of humans for too long so would likely not survive.
I hate our small rubbish Zoo’s. I choose not to go now as always come out feeling sorry, and sad for the animals ensnared there.
IF you are going to keep animals, then they need Safari Parks to do so, not some silly cage with a few paintings of ‘the wild’ which may and does fool the publics brain, but not that of these animals.
You clearly have no idea the amazing rescue and rehabilitation work that they do there, have you ever taken the time to listen to the animals stories told by the guides?… No I didn’t think so.
Sarah, the famous saying ‘well, ‘they’ would say that, wouldn’t they’ springs to mind.
That is their wage, and life style choice to be paid to travel the world bringing back some poor injured, endangered or similar animal.
Certainly they ‘believe’ they are ‘doing the right thing’ but sometimes being kept in a cage is worse than death.
Surely YOU on a Spring morning can go out and ‘feel’ the feeling, well animals have that feeling of freedom built deep within them. Hence they pace up and down, unhappy for years just so some uninterested children can gawp at them for a selfie.
Unless they can be returned to be free in the country where they feel at home, not shivering in this dark, gloomy dank dump for all the months of Winter where even few humans go to gawp at them, then don’t bother saving them at all.
Your Grandmother may ‘seem’ well cared for in a oap’s home, She has warmth, food, cleaned, tidied, BUT she would rather be able to do all that for herself, and be out in the REAL world with all its faults.
Stop deluding yourself and see it how it really is, not how it makes you feel comfortable to see it.
Very eloquently put however I believe with all my heart that you are wrong. The tour guides at the zoo are amazing passionate and I believe in no way driven by money, I urge you to visit and ask the questions that you have put here. These cats have been rescued from the circus and they have no teeth and no claws and need constant medication that could not practically be administered in a safari park. I do agree that animals should all be living in the wild but for some the option is a loving home like the zoo or euthanasia. I would also like to point out I have NEVER seen the big cats pace at the isle of wight zoo. I am not in any way deluded and I am well educated on this subject, on the rest we will have to agree to disagree.