Sacramento Zoo introduces new lion with Kings-themed name
(FOX40.COM) — The Sacramento Zoo has welcomed a new resident.
With the help of the Sacramento Kings, the zoo introduced a three-year-old male African lion named Slamson II on Thursday after the animal finished a 30-day quarantine period.
The young lion’s debut at the zoo comes months after the June 2023 death of Kamau, a 16-year-old African lion that was one of its most iconic animals.
The lion, named after after the Kings’ lion mascot Slamson, came to Sacramento from the Dallas Zoo.
Officials from the zoo said the addition of the young lion is part of the zoo’s long-term plan toward a “larger zoological park” in Elk Grove.
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In a news release from the zoo, the partnership between the zoo and the Kings is based on “a commitment to community and mission of making the world a better place.”
“We are excited about this new partnership between the Sacramento Zoo and the Sacramento Kings,” Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen said in a statement. “It reflects a shared regional commitment to conservation, community and unity that has been, and continues to be, part of the planning and discussions surrounding a potential new zoo in Elk Grove.”
The new lion, whose name hasn’t been revealed, will slowly be introduced to his habitat and will have a chance to explore his surroundings for a few hours over his first several days.
Female lion Cleo, the zoo’s longtime 18-year-old resident lion, and the young male will rotate for public display until the animals acclimate to each other and a more formal schedule is developed.
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“The arrival of this lion not only adds to the Sacramento Zoo’s rich history with these majestic animals, it underscores the evolving role of zoos in today’s conservation landscape,” Sacramento Zoo Chief Executive Officer Jason Jacobs said in a statement. “Over the past 90 years, the Sacramento Zoo has played a crucial role in educating and exposing generations of visitors to the wonders of lions.”
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