A new resident is joining the Tulsa Zoo. Male African lion, Kalu, has started the introductory process and will eventually be joining lioness Shatari on exhibit.
Kalu (pronounced Kuh-LOO) arrived at the Tulsa Zoo in April and underwent a standard quarantine period. During this time veterinary staff monitored his health and well-being. He was recently moved into the lion grottos and will slowly become familiar with the exhibit and Shatari.
“After spending several days forming bonds with animal care staff behind-the-scenes, we plan to start allowing Kalu access to the lion exhibit,” says Curator of Mammals Jordan Piha. “Both lions will be able to see and smell one another, as Shatari will be in the other large cat grotto, where the tigers used to live. We will look to their behavior for cues about when they are ready to meet.”
Kalu was born in 2015 at the Denver Zoo to first-time parents mother Neliah and father Sango. He will be a companion to Shatari following the loss of male African lion Kofi in November 2017 to age-related illness. Shatari, almost 16 years old, was born at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, CO.