http://www.facebook.com/pages/Zoocheck/118864269587
On Thursday April 19, 2012, Subira, the lone female lion at the Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, started her journey to The Wild Animal Sancutary in Colorado. Subira traveled comfortably and had no problems with the trip. She was unloaded yesterday at approximately 6:30 Mountain Time. While Subira was trying to decide if she wanted to get out of the transport cage into the large enclosure inside the Bolivian Lion House, all of the other lions outside (and one male inside on the other end of the 15,000 sq. ft. building) began to roar. According to sanctuary staff, “It was great to see her reaction, as she perked up and listened intently.”
When the lions stopped roaring, she got up, walked into the enclosure and began to check it out. Once she was done, she came over to the fence and would lightly moan and talk back to staff whenever they spoke to her. The next time the lions roared outside, she stood up and listened intently again.
Staff eventually left her for a while, as they had to drive to another part of our facility, but they came back about an hour later. Subira had eaten the meat she had been given and was drinking as staff entered. She laid down next to the fence and seemed content and stayed alert listening for more lion talk.
Sanctuary staff plan on spending a lot of time at the lion complex to make sure Subira feels supported. If she continues to be comfortable, she will be allowed visual contact with several other lions – except for the ones adjacent to her enclosure – so she can see them as well as hear them better.
It will be some time before Subira is allowed to meet the lions in the enclosure next to hers. She must get accustomed to the proximity of other lions first, as well as claim her new territory before her rehabilitation can move on to the next step.
Zoocheck is happy to have facilitated Subira’s relocation.
More news on Subira later.
Thank you again, Bob Barker and everyone who cared for this lion and who is looking out for her now. Have a great life in Colorado, Subira! Love, Julie