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Description
Photo taken in August, 2016 @ Landgoed Hoenderdaell, The Netherlands

This pretty boy is Omar; he was born in a circus in Slovakia. He was bought as a cub by a man who thought it would be fun to own a cub. Until he had to flee to the country. leaving Omar behind in a too-small cage. The man's father tried to sell Omar, but failed. The Lion was starving while kept in the small enclosure without any cover from the cold. When animal activists saw that he was up for sale, they called in the help of the foundation aligned with the zoo.
Omar had lost nearly all of his manes and was close to emaciated when he arrived at the zoo in 2015. Since then, he's quickly regained his lost weight and his mane grew back. He's one of the most impressive males at the zoo: fit, young and handsome.
His brother Bruno from the same litter also found a home at the zoo. Formerly owned by a member of the mafia, he was left to his own devices after his owner died in prison. The man's wife did not know what to do with the big cat, and called in the help of the foundation. Though Bruno arrived in a better condition than his brother Omar, he can still show some stressed behavior.
Because they're young Lions, they have a future ahead of them in the semi-wild of Africa.

UPDATE: The brothers will move together to Africa this year

Omar was rather eager to get his turn in the hunting simulator, and din't waste any time. He was running, prowling and jumping. This shot was taken right before he jumps upward (something I had not anticipated - the next shot in the sequence shows just his legs at the top of the frame). He's frothing a little at the mouth but he did catch the meat in the end

Here are more photos of Bakari's pride in the hunting simulator:

We didin't really know how to handle the photography conditions inside, so you will notice some irregularities and hardships like the obvious moments in these photos.

Species: African Lion (Afrikaanse leeuw)

Latin name: Panthera Leo

Originates from Africa and West Asia.

Current status: Vulnerable

Did you know:

…It is the second-largest living Cat, after the Tiger, but the tallest – at the shoulder – of all living cats.

…Lions are the only members of the Cat family to display obvious sexual dimorphism, meaning that males and females look distinctly different.

…Lions in captivity tend to be larger than Lions in the wild.

© Me

I love it when you love my work, but please, if you want to use it in any other medium, ask my permission first.

To see more Feline photos, check out my gallery

Description
Photo taken in August, 2016 @ Landgoed Hoenderdaell, The Netherlands

This pretty boy is Omar; he was born in a circus in Slovakia. He was bought as a cub by a man who thought it would be fun to own a cub. Until he had to flee to the country. leaving Omar behind in a too-small cage. The man's father tried to sell Omar, but failed. The Lion was starving while kept in the small enclosure without any cover from the cold. When animal activists saw that he was up for sale, they called in the help of the foundation aligned with the zoo.
Omar had lost nearly all of his manes and was close to emaciated when he arrived at the zoo in 2015. Since then, he's quickly regained his lost weight and his mane grew back. He's one of the most impressive males at the zoo: fit, young and handsome.
His brother Bruno from the same litter also found a home at the zoo. Formerly owned by a member of the mafia, he was left to his own devices after his owner died in prison. The man's wife did not know what to do with the big cat, and called in the help of the foundation. Though Bruno arrived in a better condition than his brother Omar, he can still show some stressed behavior.
Because they're young Lions, they have a future ahead of them in the semi-wild of Africa.

UPDATE: The brothers will move together to Africa this year

Omar was rather eager to get his turn in the hunting simulator, and din't waste any time. He was running, prowling and jumping. This shot was taken right before he jumps upward (something I had not anticipated - the next shot in the sequence shows just his legs at the top of the frame). He's frothing a little at the mouth but he did catch the meat in the end

Here are more photos of Bakari's pride in the hunting simulator:

We didin't really know how to handle the photography conditions inside, so you will notice some irregularities and hardships like the obvious moments in these photos.

Species: African Lion (Afrikaanse leeuw)

Latin name: Panthera Leo

Originates from Africa and West Asia.

Current status: Vulnerable

Did you know:

…It is the second-largest living Cat, after the Tiger, but the tallest – at the shoulder – of all living cats.

…Lions are the only members of the Cat family to display obvious sexual dimorphism, meaning that males and females look distinctly different.

…Lions in captivity tend to be larger than Lions in the wild.

© Me

I love it when you love my work, but please, if you want to use it in any other medium, ask my permission first.

To see more Feline photos, check out my gallery