ARTIS Zoo in Amsterdam proudly presents its officially opened new lion enclosure. This significantly larger habitat, inspired by the African savannah and designed by Thijs de Zeeuw and Alexander Lefebvre, provides diverse spaces for its lion pride. Visitors can explore this innovative environment, learning about lion behaviors, their vulnerable status, and global conservation initiatives. It's a key step in enhancing animal welfare.
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ARTIS Zoo has officially opened its new, significantly larger lion enclosure, designed by landscape architect Thijs de Zeeuw and architect Alexander Lefebvre. The enclosure is inspired by the African savannah and aims to enhance animal welfare by providing more choices and catering to natural behaviours.
The new lion enclosure at ARTIS Zoo, officially opened on 3 October 2023, marks a significant step in the zoo's renewal. Designed by landscape architect Thijs de Zeeuw and architect Alexander Lefebvre, it is ten times larger than the previous one and is inspired by the African savannah. The layout caters to the lions' natural behaviours, offering diverse resting areas including a sandy plain, an overgrown rocky section on a hill, and grassland along water banks. This design provides the animals with more choices, such as varied resting spots and climbing structures, contributing to better animal welfare. Visitors can explore this new environment, stepping into the lions' world and learning about them as a key species, their vulnerable status in the wild, and their symbolism across cultures. The enclosure aims to encourage visitors to actively search for the lions and discover stories surrounding them. The current lion pride consists of 11- and 12-year-old lionesses born at ARTIS and a 6-year-old male who arrived in 2019. These lions are part of a European species conservation programme for the African lion, which is classified as ‘vulnerable’ globally. ARTIS supports the SPOTS Foundation to raise awareness about lion conservation. The zoo views the enclosure as an evolving landscape, with ongoing studies by students planned to further assess and potentially adjust the animals' environment based on their behaviour and welfare.
The new lion enclosure is part of ARTIS Zoo and is accessible with general admission. Visitors are encouraged to explore the new environment and learn about the lions and conservation efforts.
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