There are three lions at Binder Park Zoo: Enzi, the male, and Shleby and Salem, who are sisters.
You can usually find them out on exhibit, lazing in the sun or playing with their toys. They’re a lot like housecats, that way.
But what goes on when they’re not out in their yard? The Lion Experience at Binder Park Zoo gives visitors a chance to see behind the scenes in the lion house.
The experience is $10, in addition to admission, at 1 p.m. on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. It lasts 20 minutes.
Tour guides will take you through a door to see the lion cage, which is kind of like the patio to the lion house.
Gabby is their zookeeper and she’ll demonstrate how the lions are trained. Since meatballs are involved, it’s usually Enzi who pushes his way to the front.
He loves treats, licking the fence to make sure he gets every bit, and these pieces of meat are fortified with vitamins and minerals.
Gabby never goes into the cage with the lions, but stands outside and pushes treats through the fence.
The important part of training is making sure the lions are healthy and they’re ready for any future medical procedures. Gabby tells Enzi to open his mouth so she can check his teeth, and to flick his tail against the fence in case they need to give him a shot in the future.
Enzi does not like flicking his tail, and he tries to intimidate Gabby into giving him a treat anyway. She stays patient, though, and tries to mix things up so he doesn’t get frustrated.
Meatballs aren’t the only treats the lions get – Shelby loves boiled eggs and eats up any that the others spit out.
They also find new scents to be fun, so their habitat gets spritzed every now and then. For playtime, they have toys and games, like a bowling ball or a barrel that needs to be turned just right to get the treat out.
Shelby and Salem will play-hunt – one will crouch down low and stalk the other, who prances around, pretending to be a zebra. Enzi doesn’t practice hunting, because in the wild it’s usually the females who bring in the food.
Not only will you learn about the lions, you’re going to realize how BIG and how LOUD they can be. It’s a unique experience, only at Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek.
