3 Lions Settle Into New Home At San Diego Zoo Safari Park

SAN DIEGO, CA — Three female lions have a new home at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in northern San Diego County.

The park in Escondido welcomed 8-year-old African lionesses Malika, Zuri and Amira from Caldwell Zoo in Texas, the Safari Park announced Thursday. The lionesses are sisters.

"We are excited to welcome these lionesses to their new home," said Lisa Peterson, executive director of San Diego Zoo Safari Park. "The lionesses carry on a great legacy of lions at the Safari Park. They are the great-grandcubs of the Safari Park's beloved male lion Izu and lioness Mina, who lived here for 18 years."

According to the Safari Park, the lionesses were moved from Texas to California following a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan, which is designed to help maintain a healthy, genetically diverse assurance population of the species and to cooperatively manage populations within managed-care facilities.

The lionesses had been in the care of Caldwell Zoo since their birth.

"Our wildlife care team has worked very hard to get them comfortable in their new home, and we are so pleased they are settling in so well," Peterson said. "We invite our guests to visit these majestic lions during their Safari Park visit, and hope everyone who visits will be inspired to learn about and gain an appreciation for this magnificent species."

The International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species lists the African lion as a Vulnerable species, according to the Safari Park. The African lion population is likely less than 40,000.