Lions at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire stay fit during the lockdown by climbing trees to find meat hidden by staff.
This creative method encourages the lions to use their muscles as they would when hunting in the wild.
Staff members hide the meat about 10 feet up in the trees before allowing the lions to search for their meals.
Caleb Hall, one of the park’s keepers, captured an eight-year-old lion named Harry climbing with ease. “All lions can climb trees, but Harry does it with such ease that it’s quite impressive,” Hall said. “He’s a popular character with his keepers and the lionesses and is truly the king of his territory.”
Longleat, which introduced lions in 1966 as the first drive-through safari park outside Africa, now hosts two prides of lions alongside other animals such as cheetahs, tigers, and giraffes.
Male lions can grow to over 10 feet long and weigh more than 240 kg, while females reach about 6.5 feet and weigh up to 180 kg. In the wild, lions typically live for around 12 years, but their lifespan can nearly double in captivity.
Although Longleat is closed due to coronavirus restrictions and will remain so until at least May 31, fans can still glimpse the lions through the park’s virtual safari experience.
Longleat recently faced tragedy in March when its owner, Lord Bath, passed away at age 87 after contracting the virus.
The family expressed deep gratitude to the healthcare workers who cared for him during such challenging times.
In related news, a four-year-old Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York was diagnosed with COVID-19 in April after showing symptoms like a dry cough and loss of appetite.
Following this, seven more big cats at the zoo—four tigers and three African lions—were also diagnosed, raising global awareness about the potential transmission of the virus between animals and humans.
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