El Paso Zoo welcomes new male African lion, Hodari

Maria Cortes Gonzalez, El Paso Times
·2 min read

El Paso Zoo visitors should be excited soon to discover a new male lion in the African section.

The lion, Hodari, will be introduced at 11 a.m. Thursday at the El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens. The El Paso Downtown Lions Club also will be in attendance to present a donation.

The 4-year-old African lion was born in 2017 at the Pueblo Zoo in Pueblo, Colorado, according to a news release.

He arrived in El Paso on Nov. 8 and has since been behind the scenes for the regular 30-day quarantine, getting to know his new exhibit and bonding with his companions and keepers, zoo staff said.

From left to right: Kamara, Zuri, Hodari, and their mother, Mashavu, at the Pueblo Zoo in Colorado. The El Paso Zoo welcomed Hodari to their lists of animals.
From left to right: Kamara, Zuri, Hodari, and their mother, Mashavu, at the Pueblo Zoo in Colorado. The El Paso Zoo welcomed Hodari to their lists of animals.

The news is especially good since Zoo staff have seen some animals pass away in the past few years. The most recent one was the lioness, Kalliope, in August of 2021.

Keepers learned quickly that Hodari is a well-mannered lion who is responsive to his caretakers.

His transfer was made possible by the El Paso Downtown Lions Club who hosted a pecan fundraiser to raise $5,000, supporting his transport to El Paso and required care.

"El Paso Downtown Lions Club is delighted to help bring a new handsome male lion to the El Paso Zoo. We believe he will bring much joy to zoo visitors," said Susan Driscoll, president of the El Paso Downtown Lions Club.

Hodari joins fellow African lionesses, Zari and Malaika, as part of a breeding recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP). The SSSP's mission is to conserve species, including the African lion.

“The introduction and integration of these powerful animals is a slow process that takes time. One of the females is happy he is here while the other is still not quite sure about him," said Joe Montisano, zoo director. "Our skilled and experienced animal keepers will monitor the process and we will have the entire new lion pride on display at the Zoo as soon as they are all ready."

María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com; @EPTMaria on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso Zoo welcomes new African male lion, Hodari