Zoo Animal Fact Card Outline
Common Name: Lion
Status (circle one):
Stable/Least Concern
Species Name: Panthera leo
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Primary Diet:
•
•
•
•
Wildebeest
Zebra
Gazelle
Warthog
Endangered
Habitat/Biome:
Grassy Plains
Savannahs
Some forested areas
Region:
Africa
Critically Endangered
Extinct in the Wild
Special Notes–Conservation, Zoo Care, etc.:
Lives 13-25 years
Exhibit has heated and cooled rocks and 1 tree
Holding area has a green roof, radiant heat,
reused lumber, and skylights
JBZ has the ability to receive breeding
recommendations for our lion, along with a
birthing den to accommodate them with room to
expand to 6 adult cats.
Behavioral Adaptations (2-5)
*CARNIVORE
Physical Adaptations (3-5)
•
Good eyesight for spotting prey
•
Quick reflexes to catch prey
•
Large teeth with strong jaw pressure
•
Babies born with spots for camouflage
•
Males have a mane that is used for fighting
•
Great sense of smell
Supporting FACTS:
•
Typically only 1 male per
pride, the rest go off in search
of their own pride.
•
Sleep 18-20 hours a day
•
Only large cat to live in groups (called a
pride)
•
Each lion has a specific role within the
pride (hunter, babysitter, protector,
etc)
These animals tend to live
much longer in captivity due
to their high level of care
•
Males protect the pride, and don’t
typically live as long as females due to
protecting his status
Lioness’s hunt in highly
coordinated hunting parties
for better success
•
The waterfall in the exhibit is
aesthetic and practical
(drinking water for lions)
•
•
Four possible titles and themes for this animal:
1. Lions work together in a pride to survive.
2. John Ball Zoo provides high quality care for its animals.
3. The top of the food chain is the place to be.
4. John Ball Zoo integrates green building practices into its exhibits.
Title:
To care for lions is the cat’s meow.
Animal:
Lion
Theme: John Ball Zoo provides high quality care for its animals.
Introduction/Invitation:
Hi, my name is _____________________,
welcome to Lake Manyara! I wanted to
open up with a question, and that is….
Props/Audience Involvement
Ideas (directions for use may
be on a separate sheet):
1. Props: enrichment item,
lion food item
Suggested location(s):
Bomas
Activity: Critter Chat
Topic: Animal Care
3) Integrating Question:
Integrates information rather than just recalling or describing, applies
observations…
1) Open ended question:
2) Focus Question:
Anyone can answer, every answer
is right…
Zero in on specifics, focus on details, direct attention
to…
Do you have any pets at
home?
How do you care for your animals?
(food, water, vet care, space to roam,
toys, play time, enrichment, etc.)
Looking in the exhibit, what do you see that we
provide for our animals?
(Waterfall for enrichment & drinking water, heated
& cooled rocks/tree for comfort, toys if seen, etc.)
Body Part 2 (Highlight 3-5 points to support the theme):
•
Here at John Ball Zoo, we give our animals the best quality care
possible. This leads to the animals having a long, healthy, wellrounded life.
JBZ has an animal hospital on site with a fulltime vet and vet tech.
•
Diets of animals have been fully researched to
provide the best possible nutritional value. They
may change due to season or growth of animal.
Body (Highlight 3-5 points to support the theme):
•
Newly built exhibits are fully researched to
provide a naturalistic environment & high-tech
accommodations for the safety of the animals &
care staff (example: extremely heavy doors on
pulleys for ease of shifting animals, and exhibit
tree & rocks)
Theme Introduction:
•
Ask the audience to raise their hands if they have ever
interested in becoming a zookeeper.
•
Follow-up with describing all of the roles of a zookeeper
(majority of time cleaning exhibits, preparing diets,
disinfecting animal areas, observations, preparing &
providing enrichment, assist vet with medical care, write-up of
paperwork for animal needs, training)
•
Enrichment = items that stimulate animals’ minds. Types of
enrichment include: toys, scents, food items, rearrange
exhibit or holding area, change-up of routine, etc.
Theme Conclusion:
The lions receive the best of care from the staff
at JBZ. This leads to the animals living longer in
captivity with a higher quality of life.
Zoo Animal Fact Card Outline
Common Name: Lion
Status (circle one):
Stable/Least Concern
Species Name: Panthera leo
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Primary Diet:
•
•
•
•
Wildebeest
Zebra
Gazelle
Warthog
Endangered
Habitat/Biome:
Grassy Plains
Savannahs
Some forested areas
Region:
Africa
Critically Endangered
Extinct in the Wild
Special Notes–Conservation, Zoo Care, etc.:
Lives 13-25 years
Exhibit has heated and cooled rocks and 1 tree
Holding area has a green roof, radiant heat,
reused lumber, and skylights
JBZ has the ability to receive breeding
recommendations for our lion, along with a
birthing den to accommodate them with room to
expand to 6 adult cats.
Behavioral Adaptations (2-5)
*CARNIVORE
Physical Adaptations (3-5)
•
Good eyesight for spotting prey
•
Quick reflexes to catch prey
•
Large teeth with strong jaw pressure (400 psi)
•
Babies born with spots for camouflage
•
Males have a mane that is used for fighting
•
Great sense of smell
Supporting FACTS:
•
Typically only 1 male per
pride, the rest go off in search
of their own pride.
•
Sleep 18-20 hours a day
•
Only large cat to live in groups (called a
pride)
•
Each lion has a specific role within the
pride (hunter, babysitter, protector,
etc)
These animals tend to live
much longer in captivity due
to their high level of care
•
Males protect the pride, and don’t
typically live as long as females due to
protecting his status
Lioness’s hunt in highly
coordinated hunting parties
for better success
•
The waterfall in the exhibit is
aesthetic and practical
(drinking water for lions)
•
•
Four possible titles and themes for this animal:
1. Lions work together in a pride to survive.
2. John Ball Zoo provides high quality care for its animals.
3. The top of the food chain is the place to be.
4. John Ball Zoo integrates green building practices into its exhibits.
Title:
Have pride in your pride
Animal:
Lion
Theme: Lions work together in a pride to survive.
Introduction/Invitation:
Hi, my name is _____________________,
welcome to Lake Manyara! I wanted to
open up with a question, and that is….
Props/Audience Involvement
Ideas (directions for use may
be on a separate sheet):
1. Pick people from audience
to represent a pride
2. Props: Fake lion mane,
family role cards
Suggested location(s):
Bomas
Activity: Critter Chat
Topic: Family dynamics
1) Open ended question:
2) Focus Question:
3) Integrating Question:
Anyone can answer, every answer
is right…
Zero in on specifics, focus on details, direct attention
to…
Integrates information rather than just recalling or describing, applies
observations…
Who is the boss in your
family?
How does each individual in your
family help out around the house?
What other animal do you know that lives in groups
like the lions? Or are there any other cats you know
that live in family groups?
(Focus on chimps, spider monkeys, and elephants)
Theme Introduction:
By living in family groups, the lions are more successful in
hunting, protecting and overall survival.
Body (Highlight 3-5 points to support the theme):
•
Go over each lions role within the family (such as hunter,
babysitter, protector, and overall lion hierarchy)
•
Male lions must leave the pride when they become
adolescents. They live in bachelor groups until they can fight
to earn their own pride.
•
Females stay within their same pride their entire lives or can
follow one of the adolescent males that leave.
•
Several females will stalk and select out their prey. By having
a large group hunting, they are able to overcome large prey,
thus able to feed the more often.
Theme Conclusion:
Being the only cat to live in family groups, lions
are very unique. Like humans, each member has
a particular role within the family; this helps the
family bond and is successful.
Conservation Connection:
Although lions are at the top of the food chain,
they have to compete with man for their prey in
the savannah and are considered pests by
farmers. It’s important for lions to have their
own protected territory.