Human Age 100 'Galbipyeo Lion', Shares a Room with a Female Lion

Cheongju Zoo Plans Cohabitation with Female Lion 'Dodo'
Gradual Training Including Face-to-Face and Cross Release Underway

A lion, once so emaciated that its ribs were visible and was called the 'Rib Lion,' is gaining a friend.

The male lion 'Barami' will be introduced to the female lion 'Dodo' on the 23rd. According to Cheongju Zoo, Barami is an elderly lion close to 100 years old in human age. Barami lived alone at a zoo in Gimhae, Gyeongnam, before moving to Cheongju Zoo, a wildlife protection facility, on July 5th.

Barami, the so-called 'Galbi Lion' protected at Cheongju Zoo.
Photo by Cheongju City

Although he was called the 'Rib Lion' due to starvation that left his ribs exposed, after being transferred to Cheongju Zoo, he was given the name 'Barami,' meaning 'wind,' with hopes that he would live a better life.

The new space where Barami will live is the area where Dodo and another male lion, Meokbo (20), used to reside. Cheongju Zoo has been conducting training for the past three months, including cross-exposure, scent adaptation, and close-range meetings to prepare for their introduction.

This introduction follows the humane euthanasia of the previously housed male lion Meokbo on the 11th due to liver cancer and posterior paralysis. Therefore, the introduction will be with only the female lion Dodo.

The appearance of Baram-i, known as 'Galbisaja', last July [Photo by Yonhap News]

The zoo explained that lions are ecologically social animals that require group living for psychological stability, making the introduction necessary.

Currently, aggressive responses between the two appear to have disappeared. If the introduction is successful, the two lions will live together in a wildlife protection facility with an activity area of 1,075㎡, designed to resemble a natural environment with many trees and soil floors.

Cheongju Zoo stated, "Lions naturally live in groups, and based on the training conducted so far, Barami is expected to adapt to the introduction without major issues," adding, "Citizens will soon be able to see Barami revitalized with his new friend."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.