Mujambi the African Lion Celebrates His 16th Birthday

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: March 26, 2021 12:59 am

Mujambi the African lion birthday Adelaide Zoo

Mujambi the African lion with one of his enrichment treats at the Adelaide Zoo

Photo Credit: Zoos SA

African lion Mujambi has celebrated his 16th birthday with special treats provided by keepers and volunteers at Adelaide Zoo. He enjoyed a range of treats alongside partner, Amani which mainly included exotic dung they could roll around in.

The Zoos SA BEEZA team who create all the behavioral enrichment at the zoo created a rhino, rabbit, zebra and keeper hut from papier mache. This was then filled by carnivore keeper Steve McKee stuffed with the faeces and bedding straw of a Pygmy Hippo, Giraffe and kangaroo.

Mujambi the African Lion

Photo Credit: Zoos SA

“At some point throughout the day I expect that Mujambi and Amani will roll around in the animal faeces,” said Carnivore keeper Steve McKee.

“This is a natural behaviour and they really enjoy it. In the wild animals do this so that their scent is hidden and they can better ambush prey,” finished Steve.

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Mujambi was born at Mogo Zoo on 26th March 2005 and came to Adelaide Zoo in 2007. At Adelaide Zoo Mujambi and his partner Amani act as ambassadors for their threatened species.

As few as 16-30,000 African lions are thought to remain in the wild.