Sioux Falls Lions Finally Bonding Together At Great Plains Zoo

The staff and lion caretakers at the Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls are excited to announce a major breakthrough for lions Simba and Amahle.

After months of hard work and dedication, the King and Queen of the Great Plains Zoo are finally sharing the same space. This is a huge step in their relationship.

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This may not seem like a big deal from an outsider's perspective, but Sioux Falls caretakers at the Great Plains Zoo know that big cat introductions can be a long process that requires a lot of patience and effort.

This moment means that Simba and Amahle are finally comfortable enough to meet face-to-face without having glass windows in between.

Amahle and Simba have been able to see, smell, and hear each other since they arrived. However, before they could safely share space, the lions had to show a variety of behaviors that indicated they were ready.

Animal Care and Veterinary teams are keeping a close eye on the pair as they learn to live together. We appreciate your patience during this process, as portions of the African lion habitat could be blocked off over the next several days – or even weeks – to give the lions some extra space, while they acclimate to living with one another.

Great Plains Zoo (via Facebook)

You can learn more about the big cat introduction process by clicking here.

What a victory for the staff and caretakers of the Great Plains Zoo! This is only the beginning, and there's more work to do.

Officials at the Great Plains Zoo are grateful for the support from their Sioux Empire visitors. We can't wait to continue to watch Simba's and Amahle's connection grow!