Great Plains Zoo newly built lion habitat to house its first big cat
The King of Pride Rock will soon call the Queen City his new home.
Great Plains Zoo announced Thursday it plans to house Simba, a male African lion who has lived at the Detroit Zoo for more than a decade, at its state-of-the-art lion habitat.
The transfer, which is expected to take place "in the near future," according to Great Plains Zoo, is thanks to a partnership between The Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the two zoos.
"He'll arrive at our zoo to begin acclimating to his new surroundings and care team," Great Plains Zoo staff wrote in a Thursday Facebook post. "This is a process that cannot be rushed, as the wellbeing, safety, and comfort of our animals is our top priority."
Simba, once owned by the royal family of Qatar, first arrived at the Detroit Zoo in October 2012, according to The Detroit News.
The AZA recommended the move to support the sustainability of a healthy, genetically diverse and demographically varied lion population in zoos.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, African lions, though not currently endangered, are considered "vulnerable" to extinction, with only an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 wild lions left in the wild.
The Great Plains Zoo is also working with AZA to bring a recommended female lion to the zoo as a potential mate for Simba.
"We look forward to introducing you to these incredible cats when the new habitat opens this summer - with plenty of space to grow our pride!" Great Plains Zoo staff stated.
Great Plains Zoo's lion habitat is set to open this summer.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Great Plains Zoo to welcome Detroit Zoo's Simba the lion
