Melbourne Zoo's Roarsome Lions Find Their Voice
Melbourne Zoo's lion brothers have found their voice, taking the Zoo's soundscape to a whole new level with their regular displays of roaring.
The four-year-old lions Ndidi and Zuberi are also developing fuller manes, which are signs that the brothers are maturing.
Melbourne Zoo Carnivores Keeper Arthur Blackham said lions roar to mark territory and establish bonds with other
lions.
"As they get older, their vocal chords change, and it comes on with maturity. Roaring is a bond for the lions, and
helps a pride stay together."
Mr Blackham said Zoo members and visitors are most likely to hear the brothers roaring as the Zoo is opening and
again late in the afternoon.
"A lion's roar can be heard up to about eight kilometres away. Out in the wild, they have their territory and each
male’s roar is quite different to the other. So what it means is, 'I am here, I am roaring, you’re within that area of
mine, you can pick that I am a big strong male'."
Sadly, African Lions are classified as vulnerable in the wild by the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red
List. Wild populations are decreasing due to threats including habitat loss through urban development and agriculture.
Zoos Victoria is part of a regional breeding program that helps to maintain a genetically-diverse insurance population
of the species.