Garden and Green

28th July 2008

THE WHITE LION BABES OF WEST MIDLAND SAFARI PARK

Staff at West Midland Safari Park in Worcestershire really do have their hands full following the birth of six beautiful White Lion cubs.

The cubs, born to two different mothers, make their public debut on Monday 28th July 2008, when they can be seen every day throughout the school holidays.

The first two male cubs, named Star and Haze were born on 6th April 2008 to mother Natasha and just as staff were getting used to caring and monitoring them daily, another four cubs were born on 2nd May 2008 to mother Maryn. The cubs – three male and one female – have been named Neptune, Ariel, Oberon and Ophelia.

Since introducing four White Lions to their collection in 2004, West Midland Safari Park now have 19 which is thought to be the largest pride of pure bred White Lions in captivity in the world.

White lions are extremely rare and shrouded in mystery. Legend has it that once every hundred years, magical White Lions will be born bringing joy to all that witness them.

West Midland Safari Park opened in 1973 and is home to the only pride of rare White Lions in the UK; has the largest family group of White Tigers and has more than 600 exotic animals in the 100-acre all-weather safari drive through. Cheetah Plains is the new exhibit for 2008.

A number of the animals at West Midland Safari Park are part of international breeding programmes, such as the European Endangered Species Programme (EEPs) and European Stud Books (ESBs). These are managed by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) and aim to preserve threatened species through managing the genetic diversity of captive populations of wild animals.

In addition, they support and participate in a number of in situ conservation programmes both nationally and internationally, most notably through working in partnership with their sister park in Ongava, Namibia. Ongava Research Centre was opened in June 2006 by Ivan Knezovich, Managing Director for West Midland Safari Park. West Midland Safari Park not only financially sponsor Ongava Research Centre, but support it in any way they can, from providing veterinary supplies, to testing radio collars.

West Midland Safari & Leisure Park is open 10.00am daily until Friday, 7th November 2008. Admission costs £10.50 per person, including a free return ticket. Amusement rides charged extra. Further information is available from the Park’s website www.wmsp.co.uk or by telephone
01299 402114.

The Lion Line Up - Stephanie Raxter with Neptune; Sarah Beck with Ariel; Lucy Pearsall with Star; Serena Ackrill with Haze; Donna Witton with Oberon and Leanne Perkins with Ophelia CREDIT -West Midlands Safari Park