A lion and three lionesses arrived at the Louis Ariel Goldschmidt Haifa Educational Zoo on Thursday as part of efforts to conserve the endangered species.
The zoo took in the four lions, all about a year and a half old, which had been housed in various zoos in the Czech Republic.
According to the Ynet news site, the lionesses are called Khitab, Kahale and Kayana, while the lion is named Marty.
The lions will enter an initial acclimatization period of several weeks, during which they will get used to their new environment and each other, before being introduced to the general public.
According to Ynet, the El Al captain tasked with flying the lions to Israel has two appropriately named sons — Ari and Lavi (which both mean “lion” in English).
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“This is an extraordinary cargo flight which required dedicated preparation,” said captain Roy Efodi. “Beyond operating the flight itself, we were required to ensure precise conditions in the cargo compartment, including with an adjusted temperature, and to plan a flight path that would minimize air pockets and turbulence as much as possible.”
The Haifa zoo currently houses two other endangered cat species — the white Bengal tiger and the Persian leopard.
“We must continue to preserve such species so that they do not disappear for future generations,” said Haifa Deputy Mayor Yossi Shalom.
The arrival comes at a delicate time, with Israel at war with Iran and the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah.
Whenever there are sirens warning of Iranian missiles or Hezbollah rockets, zoo staff members herd the lions, along with other animals, into indoor chambers or rooms made of solid concrete to take shelter.
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