The former Lion Zoo Park at 6 kilo has been moved and integrated into a new site in the recently transformed Peacock Park Zoo located in the Bole area.
Following the city-funded construction of the new facility, the zoo is now in a much larger 26-hectare site which was designed in collaboration with German architect Nikolaus Knebel, and constructed over four phases.
The lion species include the rare Leopantels Abyssinica which is endemic to Ethiopia. Authorities believe that the previous site with much more cramped conditions may have contributed to the low breeding rate among the lions but they expect this to improve in their new surroundings. The original lion park was first established in 1948 after hunters gifted lions to Emperor Haile Selassie which lived in and roamed the palace grounds!
In addition to lions, the new and greatly anticipated zoo in lush green grounds and attractive enclosures also accommodates tortoises, geleda baboons, monkeys, apes, rabbits, ducks and fish. It opened to visitors in June and is a welcome green park for both animals and visitors alike!