Philanthropists Joy and Boysie Bollinger make largest-ever individual donation to Audubon Zoo. #nola Tweet

With an eye toward breeding lion cubs in the future, Zoo officials expect the exhibit to have one male lion and two or three females.

Throughout many parts of Africa, lion populations have declined sharply since the early 1990s and studies show that the numbers are likely to dwindle further in the next two decades unless major conservation efforts to save them are successful.

Lions, a part of Audubon Zoo’s animal collection since the 1940s when it was known as the Merz Memorial Zoo, have not been part of the animal collection for three years. Bubba, a male, died of cancer in May 2013 and female Cassie – now 19 years old – “retired” to the Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center on the West Bank later that year.

“For generations, lions were a fixture at Audubon Zoo. Now, thanks to the generosity of Joy and Boysie Bollinger, they’re coming back,” said Audubon Nature Institute President and CEO Ron Forman.

“When Bubba was still around, I would crack the window open a little bit just to hear his majestic roar in the morning. That sound was comforting in so many ways. We have all missed the lions at Audubon Zoo. Everyone is looking forward to hearing that iconic roar once again.”

The Bollingers, who have visited Africa many times, said they want their gift to offer a way for young people to share their experiences.

“Many children who come to the zoo will never get to see these magnificent animals in the wild,” said Joy Bollinger. “So this is bringing Africa to them.”

Boysie Bollinger, a member of the Audubon Commission, said he is hopeful that his family’s donation will inspire others to contribute in different ways.

“I think it’s important to give back.” he said. “We’ve been blessed with very fortunate resources and we’re able to support a lot of worthy causes and we’re happy to do so.”

“We have always enjoyed supporting Audubon Nature Institute. When we recently asked where support was needed, Ron presented us with the opportunity to bring lions back to the Zoo. So we were very excited that the Zoo was planning a lion exhibit at the same time we were planning a substantial gift. It just worked perfectly well.”

Audubon Zoo General Curator and Vice President Joel Hamilton said bringing back lions is a logical way to kick off the remodeling of the African Savanna.

“The lion is an important species that is facing difficulty in the wild,” Hamilton said. “The public loves lions for many different reasons. They’re the ‘king of the jungle’ even though they don’t live in jungles necessarily. We look forward to bringing these majestic animals back to Audubon Zoo.”

Hamilton said the new lion habitat will bring guests new experiences that incorporate all the latest thinking and elements in exhibit design.

For example, plans call for two “training walls” where animal experts will work with lions, teaching them to open their mouths for dental exams and to stretch out for medical checkups.

Placing the lion habitat in the Africa exhibit is the latest effort by Audubon Zoo to enhance the geographic approach to the animal collection at Audubon Zoo. It follows the recent move of the orangutan collection from the World of Primates to Asia.

Approximately 60 percent of the existing eland exhibit will be reserved for the lion habitat, with the remaining space set aside for a mix of hoofstock and bird species. Among the species under consideration for the neighboring exhibit are Thompson gazelles, duikers, ground hornbills and secretary birds.

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