Lions in South-Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia

[BorneanTiger]

‘Reverse’ zoo locks visitors in cages for lions’ viewing pleasure: https://nypost.com/2021/08/19/reverse-zo...s-to-view/

By Asia Grace, August 19, 2021, 1:05 PM

Scaredy cats, beware — this wild zoo is letting people get up close and purr-sonal with the king of the jungle: https://nypost.com/2021/08/16/another-ce...an-hunter/

Lion sanctuary GG Conservation in Harrismith, South Africa, is placing visitors inside Plexiglas cages stationed at the centre of the lions’ lair, granting animal enthusiasts a palm-to-paw encounter with their menagerie of 77 rescued big cats.

“We have been offering this experience for almost two years now,” director of the non-profit wildlife park Suzanne Scott, 53, told Caters. “The safety of both our guests and big cats is top priority.”

For 2000 to 3000 South African rand, which converts to about $134 to $197 in US currency, tourists are locked inside GG’s “professional photography cage” for 45 minutes from 6:30 a.m. until 7:15 a.m. each day — depending on weather and staff availability: https://ggconservation.org/filmandphotography/

The GG Conservation is locking visitors inside cages to give them a “safe and humane” encounter with lions; credit: @ggconservation / CATERS NEWS
   

Children under the age of 14 are not allowed. But permitted guests are encouraged to snap close-range pictures of the lions as the massive carnivores try clawing through the enclosure’s acrylic walls.

“The [cage] is regularly checked by an engineer to ensure it can safely carry the weight should a lion jump on top of it,” said Scott of the big cats, whose weights can range from 270 to 570 pounds.

The Plexiglas cage supports the massive weight of the big cats; credit: @ggconservation / CATERS NEWS
   

The GG Conservation — named after its founder Glen Garriff and commissioned to sustain South Africa’s dwindling lion population — was gifted the cage by a German photographer who regularly frequents the sanctuary. The Plexiglas cube, which accommodates up to three people at a time, is outfitted with several circular “breathing holes” that offer the daredevil detainees air supply.

The cage is outfitted with breathing holes that provide visitors with a fresh flow of oxygen; credit: @ggconservation / CATERS NEWS
   

“These holes are totally safe and too small for a lion paw to get through,” the conservation’s website assured. And while the topsy-turvy zoo notes “safety” as its top priority, it also gives visitors fair warning about the unpredictability of the volatile species.

“We cannot guarantee how the lions will react,” the site reads, “but will endeavor to ensure you have a fantastic experience.”

Guests have called the cage experience “amazing;” credit: @ggconservation / CATERS NEWS
   

And fans of the ferocious felines who have visited the sanctuary have lionized the adventure online.

“The whole experience at GG Conservation was amazing,” one guest wrote in a testimonial. “The lion cage really allowed me to come close-up with these awesome specimens,” another penned. “So much so that I could actually smell them.”

The lions are mentally and physically stimulated during the cage escapades; credit: @ggconservation / CATERS NEWS
   

And it’s a roaring good time for the big cats, too.

“It offers the lions enrichment in the form of mental and physical stimulation — which is good for any animals in captivity,” said Scott. Profits from the cage escapade are allocated towards housing the rescued pride.

The lions are well fed and maintained through the profits from cage experience; credit: @ggconservation / CATERS NEWS
   

“It’s a nonprofit sanctuary relying solely on donations,” Scott explained. “The cubes rates offer us a small income which directly helps us to feed and protect the lions in our care.”

GG will soon welcome another 17 big cats that were recently rescued from a defunct zoo in the Middle East.

GG plans to welcome more lions before the end of the year; credit: GG Conservation / Caters News
    Reply