Lions at the Werribee Open Range Zoo celebrated a very special birthday last week.
To mark the 14th birthday of Johari, last Monday the big cats of the zoo were presented with specially-made pinatas filled with their favourite smelly treats – straw bedding from the gorilla dens and rhino manure.
Johari was born at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo in 2003 and arrived at Werribee Open Range Zoo in 2012.
He was joined by lionesses Nilo and Nairibi in 2014 and the three has since developed into a pride, with three litters of cubs being born at the zoo since 2015.
Johari is the leader of the pride and tips the scales at a mighty 189 kilograms.
While Johari and his pride are thriving at the zoo, experts estimate there may be as few as 20,000 lions remaining in the wild.
Details: zoo.org.au
