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Wild Net Africa News Archive Attempt to Breed Endangered Lions. (26 August, 1998) Two Barbary lions - a breed believed to be teetering on the verge of extinction in Africa - will arrive in Johannesburg from Italy next month in an effort to revive the species on the continent. Conservationists believe the last wild Barbary lion in Africa was shot in Morocco in the 1920's. The male of the species, which was once common in northern Africa, is characterised by the unusual dark mane, which stretches underneath the stomach to the hind legs. The new arrivals will be transported to Hoedspruit Breeding and Research Centre for Endangered Species. Arturo, the six-year old male, has been sterilised, but he will find a permanent retirement home at the Centre. His six-year-old sister, Sissi, will participate in a captive-breeding project with another lion, believed to be the last remaining Barbary in South Africa. This 12-year-old male was rescued from certain death after being abandoned in Mozambique by the owner of the Akef Egyptian circus in 1996. The owner of the circus was being sought for illegal trade in wildlife. According to Lente Roode, owner of the Hoedspruit Breeding Centre: "Arturo and Sissi will, we hope, be the first of many lions to be moved from Italy to Hoedspruit to become part of one of the most exciting breeding projects in the world today." The lions will be kept in quarantine for six months, and kept apart for a
further six months to allow them time to become acquainted with one another. According to
Roode the offspring will go to a reserve in the Cape province, where they will replace the
now extinct Cape lion.
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