San Diego Zoo Safari Park Welcomes 'Bo' The Lion

SAN DIEGO, CA — A new lion was welcomed to the pride this week at San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

Bo, a 7-year-old male African lion, was moved from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado to the Safari Park in Escondido, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance announced Wednesday.

Bo will eventually lead his own pride when he is introduced to the three female lions who reside at the Lion Camp habitat. For now, he will rotate on and off habitat with the lionesses until all four lions are comfortable interacting together, according to the zoo.

Bo was relocated based on a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan for African lions, which is designed to help maintain a healthy, genetically diverse assurance population of the species.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species lists the African lion as a "vulnerable species," with a total population that is likely less than 40,000. African lion populations are declining largely due to habitat loss, poaching and trafficking.