(3-27-25) The Fort Wayne Zoo recently introduced a new African lion to the zoo, Kiume (Pronounced as Cue-MAY). Thirteen-year-old Kiume is welcomed from John Ball Zoo (Grand Rapids, Michigan) as a companion for Ina, the female lioness in our care.

Michelle Smurl, Vice President of Animal Care and Conservation Education

“We have been working with the Association of Zoos and Aquarium (AZA) Species Survival Plan to find the perfect match for Ina and we are overjoyed to have Kiume here. Though guests are just now beginning to see glimpses of him, Ina and Kiume have been going through carefully planned and phased introductions for the past several months. Throughout this lengthy process, our Animal Care Team have been elated to see how well these two have bonded.”

Ina and Kiume both lost their longstanding mates in 2024. Because these big cats are social, naturally living in groups called prides, it was important work to find a suitable match for each lion and we feel privileged to bring these two aging lions together.

As Kiume continues to acclimate to his new habitat space, he may still have access to his behind-the-scenes spaces to help mitigate any stress, promote natural exploratory behaviors, and maintain a high level of animal well-being. As a result, the zoo asks that members and guests to please be patient as he becomes comfortable with the habitat space.

This lion becomes the Zoo’s newest ambassador representing wild African lions. Lion populations have experienced rapid decline over the last two decades, with only about 23,000 lions remaining in the wild today. Habitat loss, increased human populations, loss of prey, and human-lion conflict are all contributing factors to declining lion population. The Fort Wayne Zoo partners with Lion Guardians, a conservation organization based in Kenya, dedicated to finding and enacting long-term solutions for people and lions to coexist.

To learn more about lion conservation and how you can help, visit fwzoo.com.