Shanti is moving to a new home at Chester Zoo
Shanti, one of three Asiatic lion cubs born at London Zoo in March 2024, will soon be moving to a new home at Chester Zoo, as part of the conservation breeding programme.
The birth of Shanti and her brothers last year was a huge boost to the effort to preserve Asiatic lions, which are found only in the Gir Forest in Gujarat, India. Recent population estimates suggest that 600 to 700 individuals remain in the wild, and due to their reliance on just one habitat, they are particularly vulnerable to a disease outbreak or natural disaster.
London Zoo’s Asiatic lion pride is part of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) coordinated by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), to maintain healthy and genetically diverse populations of threatened species and support conservation efforts.
Together, we’re preserving a ‘back up’ population of these Endangered big cats should they be needed to support their wild cousins, while inspiring millions of people to help protect wildlife.
London Zoo’s Asiatic lions are supported by Liontrust, who helped to name our three cubs last year with a nation-wide naming competition.
We can’t wait to see how Shanti settles at Chester Zoo.