Sarabi the Female Lion Leaves the Ellen Trout Zoo

The Ellen Trout Zoo is one of my favorite attractions in East Texas so I am always glad to see emails on changes and additions at the zoo.  I just found out today that Sarabi, the Ellen Trout Zoo’s 16 year old generic lioness, will be going to the Albuquerque Biopark in New Mexico to provide a companion for a lone male lion there. This move will enable the Ellen Trout Zoo to begin a breeding program for Mashaka, the 5 year old male lion and Adia the 4 year old female lion that are currently sharing the exhibit with Sarabi. These actions are part of the Lion Species Survival Plan (SSP), a cooperative breeding program among different Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Accredited Zoos housing lions. It is just one of the ways Accredited Zoos work together to provide for the long term benefit of the species in their collections. There have not been any lion births at the Ellen Trout Zoo since the late 1970s. Everyone here is excited about the prospect of having cubs.  I know I am!