The Wind That Blew Through the Emaciated Rib Lion Met His Daughter

Cheongju Zoo Transfer, Scheduled to Co-house with Barami in 3 Days Next Year

Cheongju Zoo in Chungbuk, designated as the Ministry of Environment's first base zoo, has welcomed a new family member?the daughter of Barami, who was known as the "Galbi Lion."

The daughter lion arrived at Cheongju Zoo after undergoing a health check at the Gangneung Ssangdungi Animal Farm, transported in a vibration-free special vehicle, according to Yonhap News on the 20th. The daughter lion, visible through the cage, yawned several times, seemingly tired from the long journey of over four hours.

Playing together, 'Galbisaja' Barami and Dodo
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The protective facility and the enclosure are separated, and there are partitions, so the mother and daughter lions could not see each other at first. However, after the daughter lion was moved inside the enclosure, she faced Barami, who was in the protective facility, at a distance of 2 meters. The introduction process was completed when Lee Beom-seok, the mayor of Cheongju who came to welcome the daughter lion, personally opened the door connecting the cage to the enclosure.

Barami's daughter will live in isolation within the wildlife protection facility's enclosure for the time being, undergoing quarantine procedures and environmental adaptation training. She is scheduled to undergo neutering surgery in November to prevent inbreeding and uterine diseases, followed by face-to-face and cross-enclosure interactions, and will be integrated with Barami in March next year.

The daughter lion, who showed stereotypic behaviors such as pacing continuously inside a narrow enclosure while at Bukyung Zoo, causing concern, was transferred to the Gangneung Ssangdungi Animal Farm for temporary protection in May.

The daughter of "Galbisaja," Saja, entered the quarantine enclosure at Cheongju Zoo on the afternoon of the 20th and is walking on the dirt floor.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Bukyung Zoo was closed in November last year after Barami, who was so emaciated that her ribs were visible and earned the nickname "Galbi Lion," was rescued and brought to Cheongju Zoo in July, sparking criticism over the poor breeding environment.

The director of Bukyung Zoo recently expressed willingness to donate a female lion to Cheongju Zoo. Although the daughter lion was born at Bukyung Zoo, it is known that the mother and daughter never lived together due to concerns about inbreeding.

Kim Jeong-ho, a veterinarian at Cheongju Zoo, told Yonhap News, "Even if they do not recognize each other, lions naturally live in groups, so the daughter lion will adapt to cohabitation without major issues," adding, "We will do our best to show citizens the sight of the mother and daughter lions walking together as soon as possible."

'Galbisaja' Baram's daughter Saja is resting after entering the quarantine enclosure at Cheongju Zoo on the afternoon of the 20th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Cheongju City plans to name the daughter lion soon through a public contest.

Meanwhile, Cheongju Zoo has been striving for the conservation of endangered species and habitats, having been designated as an ex-situ conservation institution by the Ministry of Environment in 2014 and as a natural monument treatment center in 2021. In May, it was designated as the first Ministry of Environment base zoo in Korea.