Hi All,
I do apologise for the huge lack of posting recently! However as all we know in the zoo world the Summer is an extremely busy time and this is very true at Linton! We have been run off our feet enjoying all the extra activities and talks that we put on during the Summer for all the public that I haven't had much chance to have a real camera session with the lions, but you will be pleased to know that I did spend a lot of my evenings spent with them. Thought I would make good use of the weather!
So now that we are out of the busy season I will now be posting photos a lot more regularly now, and it looks like I am starting off this new busy posting period with a rather unusual set of photos taken last week. I don't normally post many photos of Riziki and Karla at all, but it turned out that last week when I did have my camera with me was when they were more active than usual! It had been raining throughout the day but had cleared up a bit so both of them were active outdoors trying to keep warm I imagine, as it has started to get a bit colder now!
Well I hope you enjoy these photos of Riziki and Karla, there will be a lot more to follow.
Riziki really does look stunning and he never fails to give off a formidable presence when he stands on his platform. This is unmistakably Linton Zoo with the brick wall in the background and all the ferns as vegitation. There are probably many people all around the UK who have a similar photo to this of Riziki or that of his predecessor Jaspa who lived here in the 1970's-80's. It is quite nice too, that because Riziki was born at Woburn Safari Park, some of Jaspa's cubs born at Linton were sent there in the 1980's so there is a very strong possibility that Riziki is a descendant of Jaspa. Even more convincing evidence, according to my boss who hand-reared them both is that they are both spitting images of each-other! So there has to be Linton lion in there somewhere we think.
Karla was doing her best trying to keep away but unknowingly posing fantastically in the ferns and nettles at the back of the enclosure. This made for some really good photos as you can see. Her feisty nature beams through in these photos I think, she really does have a big character this girl!
However my camera's attention was very quickly brought back to Riziki who was busy on his platform clearly wanting his photo taken. This is enough of me talking for the moment, please enjoy looking at the rest of the photos!
Riziki and Karla have been at Linton for ten years now and have just celebrated their tenth birthdays at the zoo. Riziki was ten on the 5th July and Karla turned ten more recently on the 29th August. These two are now well into their middle aged years now, and Riziki definately gives off the impression of a wise old man to me. My boss and myself both think that he would suit a monocle. What do we all think?!
It is fantastic to see these two more active now the winter season is approaching and incredibly interesting to see their reactions with the people who they have affection for. Because I spend so much time with Zuri and Safina I never really see these two that much as I would like. However the other night I went to see them with my boss Kim Simmons and they were bounding around just like little cubs for her fuss and attention! It was amazing to see two fully grown lions chasing eachother around and bounding round their enclosure because they were so excited to see her! Truly inspirational!
I hope you have enjoyed all these photos, and that you look forward for more to come along very shortly.
Thanks
James
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