Come face-to-face with a lion at the remodeled exhibit at Rolling Hills Zoo in Salina

Kendrick Calfee, Salina Journal
·4 min read
Lions at their new area at the Rolling Hills Zoo in Salina.
Lions at their new area at the Rolling Hills Zoo in Salina.

The new Pride of the Prairie exhibit at Rolling Hills Zoo opened Aug. 5, a little under nine months since the project broke ground. It’s located just beyond the Zoo’s entrance and is now one of the first things visitors see when they make the trip to the zoo.

The “invisible fence” around the exhibit provides for a nerve-racking first look, said Linda Henderson, the zoo's director of development and marketing.

“It’s designed to kind of blend into the sky, so you get that feeling that there’s really nothing separating you from the lions,” Henderson said.

Kansas native tall grass prairies were the inspiration behind the new 20,000 square foot exhibit, as they mimic the savanna grasslands of Africa.

Lions at their new area at the Rolling Hills Zoo in Salina.
Lions at their new area at the Rolling Hills Zoo in Salina.

Meet the two lionesses at Rolling Hills Zoo

For now, two lionesses watch visitors, but the zoo plans to eventually introduce a male to the group. The two female lions are eight-year-old sisters Zalika and Kamali.

Zalika is a Swahili name for “well-born.” She weighs about 326 pounds.

Of the two females, Zalika is more outgoing and curious about new people. She often takes the lead when exploring new places.

Overall, she is playful and calm, but she is also the “alpha female,” or “boss lady” – known for telling Kamali what to do. She likes to playfully jump out and “spook” her keepers.

Rolling Hills Zoo is a world-class zoo featuring more than 100 species of wildlife and a large 64,000-square-foot wildlife museum just west of Salina.
Rolling Hills Zoo is a world-class zoo featuring more than 100 species of wildlife and a large 64,000-square-foot wildlife museum just west of Salina.

Kamali’s name comes from the Shona people of Zimbabwe and surrounding nations. It denotes a spirit said to protect babies from death. She weighs about 298 pounds.

Kamali is curious and takes an interest in new people. She also does well with moving to new environments, but she does not like small spaces.

She is more reserved than Zalika but shares a strong bond with her sister. Her favorite toy is an Aussie ball.

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Face-to-face with a lion

The Pride of the Prairie exhibit is still under construction, with a new area for the lions at the Rolling Hills Zoo that will double the size of their outdoor exhibit. Fencing is currently being installed.
The Pride of the Prairie exhibit is still under construction, with a new area for the lions at the Rolling Hills Zoo that will double the size of their outdoor exhibit. Fencing is currently being installed.

Underneath the newly-constructed stone structure is a cave-shaped area with large windows where visitors can view the lions up close.

“They can literally come nose-to-nose with you at the windows, which is kind of a fun experience,” Henderson said.

Another window, known as the training window, is where guests can watch zookeepers train the lions. The glass door opens to a rope-like barrier where keepers check the animal’s teeth, paws and tail. They are also able to draw blood.

Introducing a male lion

When the zoo is able to introduce a male to the group, it will utilize what is called the “day room,” which features two seven-ton boulders that had to be lifted by cranes into the building before the roof was constructed.

“When you get a male, to introduce them, it’s like dating – you don’t always like each other right away,” Henderson said. “So, we’ve got to get these guys to decide they kind of like each other.”

To achieve this, the zoo will rotate where the male and females are housed. While the females are in the yard area of the exhibit, the male will hang out in the day room, and vice versa until they are acclimated with one another.

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Helping to keep lion genetics clean

As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Rolling Hills is a part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP) and Saving Species from Extinction (SAFE).

Through the SSP, they look at keeping populations of animals as genetically clean as possible and bring in animals from across the Association of Zoos and Aquariums network.

The zoo also has signage describing AZA’s SAFE African Lion Program, with a goal of increasing the number of African lions in the wild through public engagement and partnering with those who can make a difference on the ground in Africa.

“There are about 20,000 lions left in the wild, which is not many in the grand scheme of things,” Henderson said. “And when you’re talking about, they’re a keystone predator, it’s really important that they stay viable.”

What is happening at Rolling Hills Zoo?

Through Aug. 14, the Sunflower Summer Program grants one free ticket per child to Kansas residents with children enrolled in pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. The free ticket includes admission for up to two accompanying adults.

The Zoo Brew Craft Fest will be from 6 to 10 p.m.  Aug. 27. The event will feature unlimited beer tastings, food and live music. Tickets are $35 for zoo members, $40 for non-members and $20 for designated drivers. Visitors must be 21 years or older to attend this event.

Sept. 17 is Public Safety Appreciation Day and Armed Forces Day, where those in public safety and active or retired military and their families are granted free admission to the zoo and wildlife museum.

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Rolling Hills Zoo in Salina opens new lion exhibit