Zoo Atlanta Lion Cubs Depart for Mexico
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Domestic travels donated by Atlanta Peach Movers
ATLANTA – March 11, 2010 – Interstate travelers are accustomed to trucks and trailers, but on March 11, 2010, motorists are sharing the road with some very unusual moving cargo. Christos, Mikalos and Athanaisi, three 21-month-old African lions born at Zoo Atlanta, left Thursday for a new home at Africam Safari in Puebla, Mexico. The cubs were named through a generous donation from Zoo Atlanta Board of Directors member Merry Carlos and her husband Chris. The Carlos family is of Greek descent, and all three names are family names: Christos (translates to Chris); Mikalos (translates to Michael), named for Mr. Carlos’ father; and Athanaisi (translates to Thomas), named for his grandfather.
The first leg of the lions’ journey has been generously donated by Atlanta Peach Movers. The big cat brothers, each weighing well over 300 pounds, have been crate-trained specifically for their road trip, which began in Atlanta on a trailer truck supplied and driven by Atlanta Peach Movers. A veterinarian and a keeper from Zoo Atlanta accompanied the lions, who are being monitored via video during the drive to Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Christos, Mikalos and Athanaisi will then be boarded onto a cargo flight for Mexico City.
A fellow accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Africam Safari will house Christos, Mikalos and Athanaisi together in a 10-acre habitat . These young males living together is a scenario that closely mirrors the behavior of many of their wild counterparts. Lion cubs are generally weaned by the age of 8 months and may remain with their mother until they are around 2 years old. Male littermates like Christos, Mikalos and Athanaisi would likely stay together in the wild, where as a unified trio they would have greater opportunities to take over and maintain control of a new pride of females.
“We are excited about this next chapter in the cubs’ lives and deeply grateful to Atlanta Peach Movers for sponsoring their trip to Chicago,” said Dr. Rebecca Snyder, Curator of Mammals. “Christos, Mikalos and Athanaisi are closely bonded with each other, so we’re delighted that they’ll be able to stay together in their new home.”
Born May 31, 2008, Christos, Mikalos and Athanaisi are the first offspring of 7-year-old lioness Kiki and her mate, 5-year-old male Kamau. The cubs’ move was recommended by the AZA Lion Species Survival Plan (SSP), which has also recommended another mating for their parents. Zoo Atlanta is also home to a second adult male, 19-year-old Farasi.
