Zoo’s Africa habitat welcoming two new inhabitants, Amara and Upepo  

John Ball Zoo is restoring the roar with the return of African lions. 

Last week, the Zoo welcomed Amara (uh-mar-uh), a six-year-old female lion, and her companion, Upepo (eu-peh-poh), a male who is nine. 

Their presence is part of John Ball Zoo’s larger mission to inspire the community to be engaged in wildlife conservation, their commitment to providing high-quality care for animals and providing a better future for all living things. 

 

“These lions are an incredible addition, and we are so excited to have lions back at the Zoo,” said Tim Sampson, curator at John Ball Zoo. “This will give everyone a chance to see these lions up close and provide our guests with a truly awe-inspiring experience. I know this community will welcome the new lions and I think they will fit in well here.” 

 

Upepo is a large African lion, weighing in at more than 425 pounds, with a large, beautiful mane. He has been described as a bit shy and timid at first, though once he feels comfortable, he is much more confident and active and is not one to just lay around. 

 

Amara is much the opposite of her partner’s personality and is quite outgoing from the start. She is said to be curious and very attentive.  

 

The pair were brought to John Ball Zoo by two staff members who traveled to Zoo Knoxville in Tennessee and transported them safely back to Grand Rapids. 

 

Aside from exploring their new habitat together, these lions share a learned trait of enjoying climbing and sitting in trees, which is most common among lions in the Lake Manyara area of Tanzania in east Africa. Their habitat at John Ball Zoo features a climbing tree built with lions in mind. 

 

The lions arrived at John Ball Zoo at the recommendation of their Species Survival Plan, a program developed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to support the survival of some of the world’s most threatened and endangered species. African lions are vulnerable to extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. 

 

As the lions adjust to their new environment, they may or may not be visible to guests. But as they become more familiar with their new home and the weather warms up, the Zoo anticipates the lions spending more time outside. There may be some obstructed views of the lion habitat as work continues on the Zoo’s Africa expansion project as part of its 2025 Master Plan. 

 

The master plan includes several new animal habitats that will be developed over the next decade. The Africa expansion will include giraffes, a state-of-the-art living space for the species and opportunities for guests to feed the giraffes. The expansion will also include educational areas and guest amenities like restrooms and a nursing room.