The Sacramento Zoo welcomed a 3-year-old male African lion hailing from the Dallas Zoo on Thursday. The new resident also received a new name: Slamson II, inspired by the Sacramento Kings’ lion mascot.
Sacramento Kings MC Scott Freshour unveiled the new name with the help of Slamson the mascot.
“We’ve both been part of this community for a long time,” Freshour said. “[The] Sacramento Kings obviously arrived here in the ‘80s and the Zoo, which I found out today, has been here over 90 years, so, two pillars in the community — it only makes sense for us to kind of collaborate and work together.”
Slamson II joined 18-year-old lioness Cleo in the Sacramento Zoo enclosure. Cleo has lived alone in the enclosure since the previous male living there, Kamau, was euthanized last year due to complications related to old age.
Slamson II kept, for the most part, hidden during his debut. Visitors could catch glimpses of him pacing in the more hidden part of the enclosure. Volunteer docent John Ginn said he’s still acclimating to his new home.
“He’s very shy,” Ginn said. “We all can’t wait to see him.”
Rachel Winkler, an animal care supervisor for the Sacramento Zoo, said it’s normal for new animals to take some time to get used to their new space. In the wild, she said male lions of his age typically leave their pride to start their own. She said the move for him was a “natural migration.”
“He’s just trying to get a lay of the land,” she said.
Within the next few years, the Sacramento Zoo will be moving its animal residents to a new location in Elk Grove. It will likely break ground in 2025. Winkler said this will offer more space for animals like Slamson II — meaning, more lions.
“Here, our space is really just set up for a duo, potentially a breeding duo,” she said. “At the new zoo, we should be able to have an actual pride of several females and just have an even more natural setup.”
Visitors can come by and see Cleo and Slamson II. Winkler said the two lions will share the space but be kept separate, due to differences in life stages and age. They’ll take rotating turns in the visible part of the enclosure.
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