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116-574: The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo is located in Bridgeland , Calgary , Alberta , Canada, just east of the city's downtown and adjacent to the Inglewood and East Village neighborhoods. It is accessible via Calgary's C-Train light rail system, by car via Memorial Drive , and by bicycle and footpath via the Bow River pathway . A large portion of the zoo is located on St. George's Island in

232-661: A baobab tree . A 340,000-litre (80,000-gallon) indoor pool for hippos offers view of the creatures underwater. In the warmer months, the doors lift to connect the building with the rest of the Savannah exhibit, home to Hartmann's mountain zebras , grey crowned cranes and ostriches . Many other animals of the grasslands, including African lions , also reside in the Savannah exhibit. In the TransAlta Rainforest, there are primates such as western lowland gorillas , eastern black-and-white colobus , and mandrills , and

348-476: A barred owl , golden eagle , great grey owl , bald eagle , snowy owl , and rough-legged hawk . The outdoor gardens are among the zoo's most popular attractions and include the Dorothy Harvie Gardens . The zoo's sheltered location supports many marginally hardy plant species. The conservatory comprises the indoor component of the zoo's gardens. It includes a number of "themed" areas such as

464-407: A western lowland gorilla infant was born to Kioja. Named Kimani, she was underweight at birth, but quickly recovered and is currently in perfect health. In August 2016 a king penguin chick named Edward hatched, born to mother Grace. The following year another king penguin chick hatched and was named Cleopatra to follow a theme of royal names. In May 2017 a Przewalski's horse foal was born at

580-601: A 1% jump in the global population. In 2014, it became necessary to separate Vasili and Samkha, the two male tiger cubs, now almost full grown, from sister Kira and mom Katja (12 years old). Based on the Species Survival Plan recommendation, which manages genetics for future breeding, they were moved to Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg . In May 2018 Vasili was moved to Toronto Zoo in Toronto . In early 2016,

696-417: A buildup of scent attracting the attention of predators, the lioness moves her cubs to a new den site several times a month, carrying them one-by-one by the nape of the neck. Usually, the mother does not integrate herself and her cubs back into the pride until the cubs are six to eight weeks old. Sometimes the introduction to pride life occurs earlier, particularly if other lionesses have given birth at about

812-549: A closer relationship with P. leo melanochaita . Lion samples from some parts of the Ethiopian Highlands cluster genetically with those from Cameroon and Chad, while lions from other areas of Ethiopia cluster with samples from East Africa. Researchers, therefore, assume Ethiopia is a contact zone between the two subspecies. Genome -wide data of a wild-born historical lion sample from Sudan showed that it clustered with P. l. leo in mtDNA-based phylogenies, but with

928-494: A collaboration involving 17 Ghana villages, was awarded the United Nations Equator Prize as one of the world's top 25 conservation initiatives. It has become a model for community-based conservation throughout Africa. In March 2012, Amur tiger Katja gave birth to three Amur tiger cubs at the zoo. The species is so highly endangered (there are an estimated 350 individuals worldwide), the births represented

1044-581: A conceptual design for an ice rink . Bridgeland has a summer farmer's market on Thursday afternoon and evenings. The Calgary Tool Library was established in 2014. The first of its kind in Alberta, members pay a small annual fee and in return have access to some of the most essential household tools without having to buy, store or repair their own. The community is served by the Bridgeland/Memorial Station and Zoo Station of

1160-471: A constant lookout for circling vultures, which indicate the death or distress of an animal. Most carrion on which both hyenas and lions feed upon are killed by hyenas rather than lions. Carrion is thought to provide a large part of lion diet. Lions and spotted hyenas occupy a similar ecological niche and compete for prey and carrion; a review of data across several studies indicates a dietary overlap of 58.6%. Lions typically ignore hyenas unless they are on

1276-425: A favoured position in the group, either stalking prey on the "wing", then attacking, or moving a smaller distance in the centre of the group and capturing prey fleeing from other lionesses. Males attached to prides do not usually participate in group hunting. Some evidence suggests, however, that males are just as successful as females; they are typically solo hunters who ambush prey in small bushland. They may join in

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1392-470: A few reported cases of old and wounded lions falling prey to wild dogs. Most lionesses reproduce by the time they are four years of age. Lions do not mate at a specific time of year and the females are polyestrous . Like those of other cats, the male lion's penis has spines that point backward. During withdrawal of the penis, the spines rake the walls of the female's vagina, which may cause ovulation . A lioness may mate with more than one male when she

1508-653: A five-year stay. The Calgary Zoo Foundation rebranded itself as the Wilder Institute and instituted the new joint Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo branding in 2021. The Calgary area suffered extensive flooding in June 2013 resulting in over $ 50 million in damage to the island section of the Calgary Zoo and parts of its Canadian Wild zone (see 2013 Alberta floods ). In a 12-hour period, with flood waters rising, zoo staff managed to move 140 animals to higher ground. In

1624-590: A focal point for multi-family development. Currently being built in The Bridges community are Bridgeland crossing I & II, Steps Bridgeland and Radius by Bucci is set to go to market in the fall of 2015. A design competition was held in 2009, by the Calgary MLC for St. Patrick's Island Bridge , a new pedestrian bridge. The bridge will link Bridgeland and St. Patrick's Island to the East Village in

1740-548: A heavier mane. On average, Asiatic lions have sparser manes than African lions. This feature likely evolved to signal the fitness of males to females. Males with darker manes appear to have greater reproductive success and are more likely to remain in a pride for longer. They have longer and thicker hair and higher testosterone levels, but they are also more vulnerable to heat stress. The core body temperature does apparently not increase regardless of sex, season, feeding time, length and colour of mane, but only surface temperature

1856-602: A high affinity to P. l. melanochaita . This result suggested that the taxonomic position of lions in Central Africa may require revision. Other lion subspecies or sister species to the modern lion existed in prehistoric times: The Panthera lineage is estimated to have genetically diverged from the common ancestor of the Felidae around 9.32 to 4.47 million years ago to 11.75 to 0.97 million years ago . Results of analyses differ in

1972-480: A key species sought for exhibition in zoological gardens across the world since the late 18th century. Cultural depictions of lions were prominent in Ancient Egypt , and depictions have occurred in virtually all ancient and medieval cultures in the lion's historic and current range. The English word lion is derived via Anglo-Norman liun from Latin leōnem (nominative: leō ), which in turn

2088-501: A kill or are being harassed, while the latter tend to visibly react to the presence of lions with or without the presence of food. In the Ngorongoro crater , lions subsist largely on kills stolen from hyenas, causing them to increase their kill rate. In Botswana's Chobe National Park, the situation is reversed as hyenas there frequently challenge lions and steal their kills, obtaining food from 63% of all lion kills. When confronted on

2204-514: A kill, hyenas may either leave or wait patiently at a distance of 30–100 m (98–328 ft) until the lions have finished. Hyenas may feed alongside lions and force them off a kill. The two species attack one another even when there is no food involved for no apparent reason. Lions can account for up to 71% of hyena deaths in Etosha National Park . Hyenas have adapted by frequently mobbing lions that enter their home ranges. When

2320-519: A kill. Crippled lions and cubs may fall victim to hyenas and leopards or be trampled by buffalo or elephants. Careless lions may be maimed when hunting prey. Nile crocodiles may also kill and eat lions, evidenced by the occasional lion claw found in crocodile stomachs. Ticks commonly infest the ears, neck and groin regions of the lions. Adult forms of several tapeworm species of the genus Taenia have been isolated from lion intestines, having been ingested as larvae in antelope meat. Lions in

2436-558: A lion makes when sniffing chemical signals and involves an open mouth with bared teeth, raised muzzle, wrinkled nose, closed eyes and relaxed ears. Lions also use chemical and visual marking; males spray urine and scrape plots of ground and objects within the territory. The lion's repertoire of vocalisations is large; variations in intensity and pitch appear to be central to communication. Most lion vocalisations are variations of growling , snarling , meowing and roaring. Other sounds produced include puffing, bleating and humming. Roaring

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2552-473: A longer evolutionary history than genetically less diverse lion samples from Asia and West and Central Africa. A whole genome-wide sequence of lion samples showed that samples from West Africa shared alleles with samples from Southern Africa, and samples from Central Africa shared alleles with samples from Asia. This phenomenon indicates that Central Africa was a melting pot of lion populations after they had become isolated, possibly migrating through corridors in

2668-399: A loose pride while females associate with up to 12 other females, forming a stronger pride together with their cubs. Female and male lions associate only when mating. Coalitions of males hold territory for a longer time than single lions. Males in coalitions of three or four individuals exhibit a pronounced hierarchy, in which one male dominates the others and mates more frequently. The lion

2784-1166: A male Indian rhinoceros named Sabari (now residing in Safari Niagara, Ontario ). The area known as Panda Passage has since been renamed to Gateway to Asia and has seen the addition of a Malayan tapir and 2 white-handed gibbons . The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo's six-acre Prehistoric Park features life-sized dinosaurs in their re-created geographical environment, including replicas of an inland sea and volcanic mountain, and more than 100 species of living plants. Dinosaurs include Albertosaurus , Allosaurus , Ankylosaurus , Apatosaurus , Baryonyx , Centrosaurus , Corythosaurus , Deinonychus , Dilophosaurus , Edmontosaurus , Elasmosaurus , Euoplocephalus , Iguanodon , Metriacanthosaurus , Nothosaurus , Omeisaurus , Pachyrhinosaurus , Parasaurolophus , Protoceratops , Pteranodon , Pterosaur , Stegosaurus , Struthiomimus , Styracosaurus , Tanystropheus , Triceratops , Tylosaurus , Tyrannosaurus rex , and Yangchuanosaurus . Penguin Plunge and

2900-449: A muscular, broad-chested body ; a short, rounded head; round ears; and a dark, hairy tuft at the tip of its tail. It is sexually dimorphic ; adult male lions are larger than females and have a prominent mane. It is a social species , forming groups called prides. A lion's pride consists of a few adult males, related females, and cubs. Groups of female lions usually hunt together, preying mostly on medium-sized and large ungulates . The lion

3016-433: A nomad is a "range". Males associated with a pride patrol the fringes. Both males and females defend the pride against intruders, but the male lion is better-suited for this purpose due to its stockier, more powerful build. Some individuals consistently lead the defense against intruders, while others lag behind. Lions tend to assume specific roles in the pride; slower-moving individuals may provide other valuable services to

3132-554: A nomadic phase before gaining residence in a pride. A study undertaken in the Serengeti National Park revealed that nomadic coalitions gain residency at between 3.5 and 7.3 years of age. In Kruger National Park, dispersing male lions move more than 25 km (16 mi) away from their natal pride in search of their own territory. Female lions stay closer to their natal pride. Therefore, female lions in an area are more closely related to each other than male lions in

3248-491: A number of kangaroos , emus , monitor lizards , and for a brief temporary time, koalas . Kamala the elephant lived at Calgary Zoo from 1976 to 2014. While there, she gave birth to a male named Calvin in 1986 and a female named Maharani in 1990. One third of the zoo's 130 species are cared for within Species Survival Plans, a global initiative to protect at-risk genetic diversity. Twenty-nine species at

3364-483: A number of reptiles including leopard tortoises , Malagasy tree boas , a panther chameleon and a pair of dwarf crocodiles , as well as an aviary containing various species of African birds. In 2017, the Land of Lemurs was opened to the public, with 3 different species of lemurs residing within; the black-and-white ruffed lemur , the ring-tailed lemur , and the red-fronted lemur . The Canadian Wilds were built in

3480-425: A reed-bed, a cave, or some other sheltered area, usually away from the pride. She will often hunt alone while the cubs are still helpless, staying relatively close to the den. Lion cubs are born blind, their eyes opening around seven days after birth. They weigh 1.2–2.1 kg (2.6–4.6 lb) at birth and are almost helpless, beginning to crawl a day or two after birth and walking around three weeks of age. To avoid

3596-486: A renovated gift shop were opened in the spring of 2012 and is located at the entrance of the Zoo. The exhibit includes king penguins , Humboldt penguins , gentoo penguins , and rockhopper penguins . Penguin Plunge consists of two main areas, an indoor climate-controlled habitat and an outdoor open-air habitat. In summer, the outdoor exhibit holds the warm-weather South American Humboldt penguins which are housed inside during

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3712-565: A short, rounded head, a reduced neck, and round ears; males have broader heads. The fur varies in colour from light buff to silvery grey, yellowish red, and dark brown. The colours of the underparts are generally lighter. A new-born lion has dark spots , which fade as the cub reaches adulthood, although faint spots may still be seen on the legs and underparts. The tail of all lions ends in a dark, hairy tuft that, in some lions, conceals an approximately 5 mm (0.20 in)-long, hard "spine" or "spur" composed of dermal papillae. The functions of

3828-429: A year old and begin to hunt effectively when nearing the age of two. Single lions are capable of bringing down zebra and wildebeest, while larger prey like buffalo and giraffe are riskier. In Chobe National Park , large prides have been observed hunting African bush elephants up to around 15 years old in exceptional cases, with the victims being calves, juveniles, and even subadults. In typical hunts, each lioness has

3944-404: Is in heat . Lions of both sexes may be involved in group homosexual and courtship activities. Males will also head-rub and roll around with each other before mounting each other. Generation length of the lion is about seven years. The average gestation period is around 110   days; the female gives birth to a litter of between one and four cubs in a secluded den, which may be a thicket,

4060-905: Is a generalist hypercarnivore and is considered to be both an apex and keystone predator due to its wide prey spectrum. Its prey consists mainly of medium-sized to large ungulates , particularly blue wildebeest , plains zebra , African buffalo , gemsbok and giraffe . It also frequently takes common warthog despite it being much smaller. In India, chital and sambar deer are the most common wild prey, while livestock contributes significantly to lion kills outside protected areas. It usually avoids fully grown adult elephants , rhinoceros and hippopotamus and small prey like dik-dik , hyraxes , hares and monkeys . Unusual prey include porcupines and small reptiles. Lions kill other predators but seldom consume them. Young lions first display stalking behaviour at around three months of age, although they do not participate in hunting until they are almost

4176-551: Is a transit-orientated development . The three phase project is located next to the Bridgeland-Memorial LRT station which is on the 202 Saddletowne/69 Street line of the city's LRT , the C-Train . Early success of the project has seen it become an example development for cities interested in creating TODs. Due to its proximity to downtown and access to great restaurants, shops and parkland, Bridgeland has been

4292-553: Is a mixture of dry savannah forest and very dry, deciduous scrub forest . In Africa, the range of the lion originally spanned most of the central African rainforest zone and the Sahara desert. In the 1960s, it became extinct in North Africa, except in the southern part of Sudan. During the mid- Holocene , around 8,000-6,000 years ago, the range of lions expanded into Southeastern and Eastern Europe, partially re-occupying

4408-643: Is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon . Public recreational facilities within Bridgeland include Harvie Passage whitewater kayak park, soccer pitch, tennis court, community garden , baseball field, off-leash dog park , disc golf course, children's playground and toboggan run. In 2010, based on an Ipsos-Reid Needs and Preferences study, the Bridgeland-Riverside Community Association initiated

4524-953: Is affected. Unlike in other felid species, female lions consistently interact with multiple males at once. Another hypothesis suggests that the mane also serves to protect the neck in fights, but this is disputed. During fights, including those involving maneless females and adolescents, the neck is not targeted as much as the face, back, and hindquarters. Injured lions also begin to lose their manes. Almost all male lions in Pendjari National Park are either maneless or have very short manes. Maneless lions have also been reported in Senegal, in Sudan 's Dinder National Park and in Tsavo East National Park , Kenya. Castrated lions often have little to no mane because

4640-470: Is an apex and keystone predator ; although some lions scavenge when opportunities occur and have been known to hunt humans , lions typically do not actively seek out and prey on humans. The lion inhabits grasslands , savannahs , and shrublands . It is usually more diurnal than other wild cats, but when persecuted, it adapts to being active at night and at twilight . During the Neolithic period,

4756-399: Is generally mutual and the recipient appears to express pleasure. The head and neck are the most common parts of the body licked; this behaviour may have arisen out of utility because lions cannot lick these areas themselves. Lions have an array of facial expressions and body postures that serve as visual gestures. A common facial expression is the "grimace face" or flehmen response , which

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4872-540: Is home to a team of biologists who have earned international recognition as North America's leaders in the science of species recovery and reintroduction. The science journal Nature rates the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo as one of the top five zoos in the world for conservation research, alongside New York , San Diego , Frankfurt , and London . In June 2012, the head of the Calgary Zoo's Centre for Conservation Research, Dr. Axel Moehrenschlager,

4988-533: Is no evidence for gene flow between the two lineages, indicating that they did not share the same geographic area. The Eurasian and American cave lions became extinct at the end of the last glacial period without mitochondrial descendants on other continents. The modern lion was probably widely distributed in Africa during the Middle Pleistocene and started to diverge in sub-Saharan Africa during

5104-525: Is organized by seven distinct zones: Destination Africa, Canadian Wilds, Penguin Plunge, Dorothy Harvie Botanical Gardens and ENMAX Conservatory, TransAlta Rainforest, Eurasia, and Prehistoric Park. The zoo is open every day except for Christmas Day. The zoo has also received international recognition as one of the top zoos in the world for conservation research. In 2013, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums said "the Calgary Zoo sets itself apart as one of

5220-609: Is part of the RiverWalk project, an effort to improve the pathways along the Bow and Elbow rivers adjacent to the East Village . The community is served by the following schools: Elementary Junior High High School Bridgeland is also served by the following schools in adjoining neighbourhoods: Lion The lion ( Panthera leo ) is a large cat of the genus Panthera , native to Africa and India . It has

5336-435: Is primarily residential with a mix of parkside condominiums and single-family houses. Bridgeland contains a variety of restaurants, food markets, retail shopping, offices, financial services, churches and schools. The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo , Telus Spark , The Bridges urban renewal development and access to the city's large network of pedestrian pathways (the Bow River pathway ) and parks are unique focal points for

5452-633: Is represented by Liberal MLA Dr. David Swann . On a federal level, Bridgeland falls in the electoral district of Calgary Centre-North and is represented in the House of Commons of Canada by MP Len Webber . Bridgeland is the start and finish point for the Scotiabank Calgary Marathon, Canada's longest running marathon. In 2009, the Scotiabank Calgary Marathon was rated as Alberta's best road race and

5568-415: Is short and powerful; it attempts to catch prey with a fast rush and final leap, usually pulls it down by the rump, and kills with a clamping bite to the throat or muzzle . It can hold the prey's throat for up to 13 minutes, until the prey stops moving. It has a bite force from 1593.8 to 1768 Newtons at the canine tip and up 4167.6 Newtons at the carnassial notch. Lions typically consume prey at

5684-590: Is the Tsavo lion pride that always has just one adult male. Prides act as fission–fusion societies , and members will split into subgroups that keep in contact with roars . Nomadic lions range widely and move around sporadically, either in pairs or alone. Pairs are more frequent among related males. A lion may switch lifestyles; nomads can become residents and vice versa. Interactions between prides and nomads tend to be hostile, although pride females in estrus allow nomadic males to approach them. Males spend years in

5800-610: Is the largest seasonal light show in western Canada. Following a series of high-profile incidents in 2008 and 2009, some commentators criticized the zoo's conduct and operations. Past incidents cited included: The zoo's director said all the incidents are unrelated. An independent review was solicited by the zoo in December 2009 and was conducted by the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums . The report, released in 2010, spotlighted systemic problems. In response,

5916-615: Is the most social of all wild felid species, living in groups of related individuals with their offspring. Such a group is called a " pride ". Groups of male lions are called "coalitions". Females form the stable social unit in a pride and do not tolerate outside females. The majority of females remain in their birth prides while all males and some females will disperse . The average pride consists of around 15 lions, including several adult females and up to four males and their cubs of both sexes. Large prides, consisting of up to 30 individuals, have been observed. The sole exception to this pattern

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6032-480: Is typically brownish and tinged with yellow, rust, and black hairs. Mutations in the genes microphthalmia-associated transcription factor and tyrosinase are possibly responsible for the colour of manes. It starts growing when lions enter adolescence, when testosterone levels increase, and reach their full size at around four years old. Cool ambient temperatures in European and North American zoos may result in

6148-426: Is unable to consume all of the kill, it rests for a few hours before continuing to eat. On hot days, the pride retreats to shade with one or two males standing guard. Lions defend their kills from scavengers such as vultures and hyenas. Lions scavenge on carrion when the opportunity arises, scavenging animals dead from natural causes such as disease or those that were killed by other predators. Scavenging lions keep

6264-534: The Bow River . The zoo is operated by the Calgary Zoological Society, an independent not-for-profit organization that is Alberta's oldest registered charity. The AZA -, WAZA -, and CAZA -accredited zoo was among the first in Canada to be accredited by all three associations. It is home to over 1,000 animals, excluding individual fish and insects, and 272 different species. The 120-acre zoo

6380-542: The Canadian Confederation . In 2017, the City council voted to change the bridge's name to Reconciliation Bridge. In 2009, the City of Calgary set up 5,600 programmable lights on the bridge for Christmas, at a cost of $ 370,000, as a part of Downtown East Village re-vitalization efforts. The LED , built by Montreal-based Lumenpulse, is composed of 5600 LED grouped in 156 programmable light assemblies, and

6496-669: The Chengdu Research Base in Chengdu, Sichaun, China. Panda Passage featured adult male Da Mao , cubs Jia Yueyue and Jia Panpan as well as their mother Er Shun . Since then, the pandas have been returned to China because of bamboo supply chain issues arising from CoVID-19. Formerly residing in the Panda's habitat area was a herd of Asian elephants (relocated to the Smithsonian National Zoo ) and later

6612-512: The Narmada River in central India. Lions spend much of their time resting; they are inactive for about twenty hours per day. Although lions can be active at any time, their activity generally peaks after dusk with a period of socialising, grooming, and defecating. Intermittent bursts of activity continue until dawn, when hunting most often takes place. They spend an average of two hours a day walking and fifty minutes eating. The lion

6728-484: The Nile Basin during the early Holocene . In zoos, lions have been bred with tigers to create hybrids for the curiosity of visitors or for scientific purpose. The liger is bigger than a lion and a tiger, whereas most tigons are relatively small compared to their parents because of reciprocal gene effects. The leopon is a hybrid between a lion and leopard. The lion is a muscular, broad-chested cat with

6844-552: The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo , Canada's second largest zoo. Bridgeland is the site of the Telus Spark , a $ 160-million facility that opened on October 29, 2011 and Canada's first purpose-built science centre in more than 25 years. The community of Riverside was established by Russian-German immigrants during Calgary's first population boom in the 1880s, when Riverside was known as Germantown. At

6960-740: The light rail C-Train transit system. As of 2007, there were 1,900 boardings per day at the Bridgeland/Memorial Station, and 1,700 boardings per day at the Zoo Station. A major redevelopment dubbed "The Bridges" commenced in 2004 on land previously occupied by the General Hospital and is underway as of 2007. It is a 37-acre (150,000 m ) inner city development, consisting of multi-family residential and mixed use buildings. The project includes 11.7 acres (47,000 m ) of parks and open space. The Bridges

7076-557: The tropical garden , the rainforest , the arid garden , and the butterfly garden . A number of animals including birds and invertebrates are housed in the conservatory. The ENMAX Conservatory was completely renovated in 2009 and features an increased emphasis on teaching visitors the importance of plants and improving energy efficiency. The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo achieved LEED ( Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ) Gold in energy conservation and responsible building practices,

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7192-676: The 1990s to house the majority of zoo's collection of North American birds and mammals. The area includes outdoor enclosures in three zones: the Aspen Woodlands , the Northern Forest , and the Rocky Mountains . Animals in the enclosures include dall sheep , river otters , caribou , bighorn sheep , mountain goats , grizzly bears , polar bears , muskoxen , moose , whooping cranes , black bears , cougars , wood bison , and grey wolves . This aviary includes

7308-775: The Asiatic lion population. In 2017, the Cat Classification Task Force of the Cat Specialist Group revised lion taxonomy , and recognises two subspecies based on results of several phylogeographic studies on lion evolution , namely: However, there seems to be some degree of overlap between both groups in northern Central Africa. DNA analysis from a more recent study indicates that Central African lions are derived from both northern and southern lions, as they cluster with P. leo leo in mtDNA-based phylogenies whereas their genomic DNA indicates

7424-687: The Bridgeland-Riverside Community Association was founded. A Red Light District survived in the neighbourhood until the First World War . In 1910, the Calgary General Hospital was built in this area. It was closed in 1997 and was demolished in a controlled explosion on October 4, 1998. Parts of lower Bridgeland were popularly known as " Little Italy " in emulation of similarly named enclaves in other cities of immigrants of Italian stock. The concentration of Italian bakeries, restaurants and groceries has diminished over time but

7540-427: The Calgary Zoo's Wildlife Conservation Centre. While not visible to the public, this is an important addition to the genetic diversity of the endangered wild horse. In June 2018 a bactrian camel calf was born to Eva. He was later named Gobi. Zoolights is a Christmas lights festival held annually at the Zoo. It closes only on Christmas Day. The month-long, animal-themed show features more than one million lights and

7656-571: The Calgary sky. The goal of the design was to have as little structure as possible in the river channel, to respect the context of the island and to provide a pedestrian and cyclists link." Construction is scheduled for 2010 at an estimated cost of $ 25 million. The Reconciliation Bridge was opened in 1910 and was initially named Langevin Bridge for Sir Hector-Louis Langevin , one of the Fathers of

7772-610: The Destination Africa project was among the zoo's most ambitious expansions. The complex of four buildings includes the TransAlta Rainforest and the African Savannah . The TransAlta Rainforest occupies 2,900 square metres (31,000 square feet) and features a collection of African rainforest flora and fauna. The African Savannah building is home to hippos , Masai giraffes , red river hogs , and

7888-629: The Late Pleistocene. Lion populations in East and Southern Africa became separated from populations in West and North Africa when the equatorial rainforest expanded 183,500 to 81,800 years ago. They shared a common ancestor probably between 98,000 and 52,000 years ago. Due to the expansion of the Sahara between 83,100 and 26,600 years ago, lion populations in West and North Africa became separated. As

8004-566: The Ngorongoro Crater were afflicted by an outbreak of stable fly ( Stomoxys calcitrans ) in 1962, resulting in lions becoming emaciated and covered in bloody, bare patches. Lions sought unsuccessfully to evade the biting flies by climbing trees or crawling into hyena burrows; many died or migrated and the local population dropped from 70 to 15 individuals. A more recent outbreak in 2001 killed six lions. Captive lions have been infected with canine distemper virus (CDV) since at least

8120-697: The adjacent Timbavati Private Game Reserve in eastern South Africa. They were removed from the wild in the 1970s, thus decreasing the white lion gene pool . Nevertheless, 17 births have been recorded in five prides between 2007 and 2015. White lions are selected for breeding in captivity. They have reportedly been bred in camps in South Africa for use as trophies to be killed during canned hunts . African lions live in scattered populations across sub-Saharan Africa. The lion prefers grassy plains and savannahs , scrub bordering rivers, and open woodlands with bushes. It rarely enters closed forests. On Mount Elgon ,

8236-424: The age of two. When a new male lion takes over a pride, adolescents both male and female may be evicted. Lions may live 12–17 years in the wild. Although adult lions have no natural predators, evidence suggests most die violently from attacks by humans or other lions. Lions often inflict serious injuries on members of other prides they encounter in territorial disputes or members of the home pride when fighting at

8352-544: The animal's expressive movements are highly developed. The most common peaceful, tactile gestures are head rubbing and social licking , which have been compared with the role of allogrooming among primates. Head rubbing, nuzzling the forehead, face and neck against another lion appears to be a form of greeting and is seen often after an animal has been apart from others or after a fight or confrontation. Males tend to rub other males, while cubs and females rub females. Social licking often occurs in tandem with head rubbing; it

8468-499: The attack. They take advantage of factors that reduce visibility; many kills take place near some form of cover or at night. One study in 2018 recorded a lion running at a top speed of 74.1 km/h (46.0 mph). The lion accelerates at the start of the chase by 9.5 m/s² , whereas zebras, wildebeest and Thomson's gazelle accelerate by 5 m/s², 5.6 m/s² and 4.5 m/s², respectively; acceleration appears to be more important than steady displacement speed in lion hunts. The lion's attack

8584-541: The beginning of the 20th century, immigrants were mostly of Italian and Ukrainian origin. The name "Bridgeland" appeared as a result of the Dominion Bridge Company operating nearby. Riverside incorporated as a village on July 6, 1903, and was subsequently annexed by the City of Calgary in 1910. In 1910, the Riverside School opened and served the community for 50 years. In 1908,

8700-460: The cause of the decline is not fully understood, habitat loss and conflicts with humans are the greatest causes for concern. One of the most widely recognised animal symbols in human culture, the lion has been extensively depicted in sculptures and paintings, on national flags, and in literature and films. Lions have been kept in menageries since the time of the Roman Empire and have been

8816-401: The community and surrounding region. Bridgeland borders a natural environment composed of the confluence of the Bow River and Elbow River . Tom Campbell's Hill park lies on the eastern edge of Bridgeland and overlooks the downtown, Bow River and northeastern part of the city. St. Patrick's Island and St. George's Island lie in the southern part of Bridgeland. St. George's Island is home to

8932-411: The cubs varies—one male could patiently let the cubs play with his tail or his mane, while another may snarl and bat the cubs away. Pride lionesses often synchronise their reproductive cycles and communal rearing and suckling of the young, which suckle indiscriminately from any or all of the nursing females in the pride. The synchronisation of births is advantageous because the cubs grow to being roughly

9048-528: The end, the only animals lost were a number of fish , two peacocks , and a pot-bellied pig . The zoo was closed for most of July 2013; the northern 60 acres of the zoo reopened to the public for August through November. The zoo fully reopened in November 2013 with new animals, exhibits, and features unveiled in 2014, including mandrills and Komodo dragons . The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo has many different exhibits in its 92 acres of land. Opened in 2003,

9164-432: The first North American to hold this position. The zoo focused on saving eight highly endangered Western Canada species: whooping crane , Vancouver Island marmot , swift fox , black-footed ferret , black-tailed prairie dog , burrowing owl , northern leopard frog and greater sage grouse . It also works on conservation projects around the world, including: In 2008, the zoo's Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary project,

9280-442: The first facility of its kind to achieve this level of certification. The western portion of St. George's Island is dedicated to Eurasian animals. Animals in this area include Amur tigers , snow leopards , Pallas's cats , Japanese macaques , red pandas , Japanese serows , Bactrian camels , and Komodo dragons . This section was also home to four giant pandas which debuted in early May 2018. The giant pandas were on loan from

9396-534: The group. Alternatively, there may be rewards associated with being a leader that fends off intruders; the rank of lionesses in the pride is reflected in these responses. The male or males associated with the pride must defend their relationship with the pride from outside males who may attempt to usurp them. Dominance hierarchies do not appear to exist among individuals of either sex in a pride. Asiatic lion prides differ in group composition. Male Asiatic lions are solitary or associate with up to three males, forming

9512-570: The hunting of large, slower-moving prey like buffalo; and even hunt them on their own. Moderately-sized hunting groups generally have higher success rates than lone females and larger groups. Lions are not particularly known for their stamina. For instance, a lioness's heart comprises only 0.57% of her body weight and a male's is about 0.45% of his body weight, whereas a hyena's heart comprises almost 1% of its body weight. Thus, lions run quickly only in short bursts at about 48–59 km/h (30–37 mph) and need to be close to their prey before starting

9628-435: The intention of increasing population density in certain areas, as well as development of a public transit oriented community. At the beginning of the 21st century, gentrification was occurring in Bridgeland. This resulted in new residents and business moving into the community. In addition, household incomes rose by +44.7% within Bridgeland between 2005 and 2015. This compares against a household income growth of +22.7% in

9744-722: The lion has been recorded up to an elevation of 3,600 m (11,800 ft) and close to the snow line on Mount Kenya . Savannahs with an annual rainfall of 300 to 1,500 mm (12 to 59 in) make up the majority of lion habitat in Africa, estimated at 3,390,821 km (1,309,203 sq mi) at most, but remnant populations are also present in tropical moist forests in West Africa and montane forests in East Africa. The Asiatic lion now survives only in and around Gir National Park in Gujarat, western India. Its habitat

9860-810: The lion population in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve declined, the spotted hyena population increased rapidly. Lions tend to dominate cheetahs and leopards, steal their kills and kill their cubs and even adults when given the chance. Cheetahs often lose their kills to lions or other predators. A study in the Serengeti ecosystem revealed that lions killed at least 17 of 125 cheetah cubs born between 1987 and 1990. Cheetahs avoid their competitors by hunting at different times and habitats. Leopards, by contrast, do not appear to be motivated by an avoidance of lions, as they use heavy vegetation regardless of whether lions are present in an area and both cats are active around

9976-544: The lion ranged throughout Africa and Eurasia, from Southeast Europe to India, but it has been reduced to fragmented populations in sub-Saharan Africa and one population in western India . It has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1996 because populations in African countries have declined by about 43% since the early 1990s. Lion populations are untenable outside designated protected areas. Although

10092-551: The location of the hunt but sometimes drag large prey into cover. They tend to squabble over kills, particularly the males. Cubs suffer most when food is scarce but otherwise all pride members eat their fill, including old and crippled lions, which can live on leftovers. Large kills are shared more widely among pride members. An adult lioness requires an average of about 5 kg (11 lb) of meat per day while males require about 7 kg (15 lb). Lions gorge themselves and eat up to 30 kg (66 lb) in one session. If it

10208-491: The mid-1970s. CDV is spread by domestic dogs and other carnivores; a 1994 outbreak in Serengeti National Park resulted in many lions developing neurological symptoms such as seizures. During the outbreak, several lions died from pneumonia and encephalitis . Feline immunodeficiency virus and lentivirus also affect captive lions. When resting, lion socialisation occurs through a number of behaviours;

10324-434: The phylogenetic relationship of the lion; it was thought to form a sister group with the jaguar that diverged 3.46 to 1.22 million years ago , but also with the leopard that diverged 3.1 to 1.95 million years ago to 4.32 to 0.02 million years ago . Hybridisation between lion and snow leopard ancestors possibly continued until about 2.1 million years ago. The lion-leopard clade

10440-612: The previous males associated with a pride, the victors often kill any existing young cubs , perhaps because females do not become fertile and receptive until their cubs mature or die. Females often fiercely defend their cubs from a usurping male but are rarely successful unless a group of three or four mothers within a pride join forces against the male. Cubs also die from starvation and abandonment, and predation by leopards, hyenas and wild dogs. Male cubs are excluded from their maternal pride when they reach maturity at around two or three years of age, while some females may leave when they reach

10556-589: The rainforest decreased and thus gave rise to more open habitats, lions moved from West to Central Africa. Lions from North Africa dispersed to southern Europe and Asia between 38,800 and 8,300 years ago. Extinction of lions in southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East interrupted gene flow between lion populations in Asia and Africa. Genetic evidence revealed numerous mutations in lion samples from East and Southern Africa, which indicates that this group has

10672-457: The range of the now extinct cave lion . In Hungary , the modern lion was present from about 4,500 to 3,200 years Before Present . In Ukraine , the modern lion was present from about 6,400 to 2,000 years Before Present. In Greece, it was common, as reported by Herodotus in 480 BC; it was considered rare by 300 BC and extirpated by AD 100. In Asia the lion once ranged in regions where climatic conditions supported an abundance of prey. It

10788-488: The removal of the gonads inhibits testosterone production. Rarely, both wild and captive lionesses have manes. Increased testosterone may be the cause of maned lionesses reported in northern Botswana. The white lion is a rare morph with a genetic condition called leucism , which is caused by a double recessive allele . It is not albino; it has normal pigmentation in the eyes and skin. White lions have occasionally been encountered in and around Kruger National Park and

10904-550: The rest of Calgary over the same period. Historically Bridgeland was a very challenged area, but has been undergoing redevelopment throughout the 2000s. The community is represented in the Calgary City Council by Gian-Carlo Carra and Druh Farrell, wards 9 and 7 respectively. On a provincial level, Bridgeland is part of the Calgary-Mountain View constituency in Alberta's Legislative Assembly and

11020-429: The same area. The evolution of sociability in lions was likely driven both by high population density and the clumped resources of savannah habitats. The larger the pride, the more high-quality territory they can defend; "hotspots" being near river confluences , where the cats have better access to water, prey and shelter (via vegetation). The area occupied by a pride is called a "pride area" whereas that occupied by

11136-420: The same size and have an equal chance of survival, and sucklings are not dominated by older cubs. Weaning occurs after six or seven months. Male lions reach maturity at about three years of age and at four to five years are capable of challenging and displacing adult males associated with another pride. They begin to age and weaken at between 10 and 15 years of age at the latest. When one or more new males oust

11252-406: The same time of day. In addition, there is no evidence that lions affect leopard abundance. Leopards take refuge in trees, though lionesses occasionally attempt to climb up and retrieve their kills. Lions similarly dominate African wild dogs , taking their kills and dispatching pups or adult dogs. Population densities of wild dogs are low in areas where lions are more abundant. However, there are

11368-420: The same time. When first introduced to the rest of the pride, lion cubs lack confidence when confronted with adults other than their mother. They soon begin to immerse themselves in the pride life, however, playing among themselves or attempting to initiate play with the adults. Lionesses with cubs of their own are more likely to be tolerant of another lioness's cubs than lionesses without cubs. Male tolerance of

11484-427: The south and the Bow River pathway system. It will provide improved linkages to many different nearby communities including Bridgeland, Inglewood , East Village and Downtown Calgary . The international design competition received 33 entries, with the winning design selected as RFR of France and Halsall of Calgary. The design is said to, "remind the public of a stone skipping across the river or an arch of clouds in

11600-422: The spur are unknown. The tuft is absent at birth and develops at around 5 + 1 ⁄ 2 months of age. It is readily identifiable at the age of seven months. Its skull is very similar to that of the tiger, although the frontal region is usually more depressed and flattened and has a slightly shorter postorbital region and broader nasal openings than those of the tiger. Due to the amount of skull variation in

11716-405: The strip along 1st Avenue NE is sometimes still referred to by this name. The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo was established on St. George's Island in 1929 with 36 mammals and 78 birds. By 2006, it had expanded to over 1,000 animals with 290 different species with exhibits from Destination Africa, Canadian Wilds, Australia, Botanical gardens, Eurasia, Prehistoric Park and South America. This area

11832-522: The third "most livable neighbourhood" in Calgary. In the City of Calgary's 2012 municipal census, Bridgeland/Riverside had a population of 5,594 living in 3,274 dwellings, a 6.5% increase from its 2011 population of 5,254 . With a land area of 3.1 km (1.2 sq mi), it had a population density of 1,805/km (4,670/sq mi) in 2012. The City of Calgary adopted an area redevelopment plan for this community in 2006, which regulates construction of buildings and recreational areas, with

11948-413: The tiger in size. The size and weight of adult lions vary across its range and habitats. Accounts of a few individuals that were larger than average exist from Africa and India. The male lion's mane is the most recognisable feature of the species. It may have evolved around 320,000–190,000 years ago. It grows downwards and backwards, covering most of the head, neck, shoulders, and chest. The mane

12064-474: The top zoos in the world." In 2015 the zoo was named one of the top three most respected organizations in Alberta and one of Alberta's 10 most beloved brands. St. George's Island was Calgary's first park, used by the community for picnics, relaxing, and socializing. The first collection of animals appeared on the island in 1917. The Calgary Zoological Society was established on 9 January 1929. Several animals died during floods in June 1929 when St. George's Island

12180-407: The two species, usually only the structure of the lower jaw can be used as a reliable indicator of species. The skeletal muscles of the lion make up 58.8% of its body weight and represent the highest percentage of muscles among mammals. The lion has a high concentration of fast twitch muscle fibers, giving them quick bursts of speed but less stamina. Among felids, the lion is second only to

12296-586: The winter months. Prior to the 2013 flooding, the zoo also had an area section dedicated to South American animals such as giant anteaters , red-bellied piranhas and various New World monkeys , as well as a number of birds including several species of macaw and two Andean condors . There also used to be an Australian animal portion, notorious for the Creatures of the Night exhibit, mostly consisting of various nocturnal animals such as bats . Also present were

12412-449: The winter. On winter days when the temperature is between +5 °C and -25 °C without wind above 20 km/h, the king penguins go on scheduled walks for exercise and enrichment. The zoo contains a flock of Chilean flamingos next to the enclosure containing both a herd of alpacas and greater rheas . Indian peafowl are allowed to venture around openly and freely across the zoo grounds, and are taken to an off-site facility for

12528-447: The zoo are in danger of extinction. Other species are considered "ambassadors" for endangered species. The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo uses a team of educators including animal keepers, interpreters, teachers, and volunteers to increase awareness among visitors about the beauty of nature and threats to wildlife. Each year the zoo's formal programs connect directly with more than 575,000 adults and children. The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo

12644-521: The zoo developed a 36-point plan that included improving animal care procedures and collection planning, addressing staffing issues like training and structure, enhancing security systems and safety drills, and upgrading aging zoo infrastructure. Later that year, the zoo hired noted animal welfare specialist, Dr. Jake Veasey, who has since instituted major changes and spearheaded new investment in animal facilities. Additional incidents and animal deaths also include: Bridgeland, Calgary The community

12760-400: Was a borrowing from Ancient Greek λέων léōn . The Hebrew word לָבִיא lavi may also be related. The generic name Panthera is traceable to the classical Latin word 'panthēra' and the ancient Greek word πάνθηρ 'panther'. Felis leo was the scientific name used by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, who described the lion in his work Systema Naturae . The genus name Panthera

12876-702: Was awarded the Canadian Wildlife Federation's Roland Michener Conservation Award which recognizes individuals who have shown a commitment to "promote, enhance, and further the conservation of Canada's natural resources". Dr. Moehrenschlager is chair of the Reintroduction Specialist Group within the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the world's largest conservation network. He is

12992-593: Was coined by Lorenz Oken in 1816. Between the mid-18th and mid-20th centuries, 26 lion specimens were described and proposed as subspecies, of which 11 were recognised as valid in 2005. They were distinguished mostly by the size and colour of their manes and skins. In the 19th and 20th centuries, several lion type specimens were described and proposed as subspecies , with about a dozen recognised as valid taxa until 2017. Between 2008 and 2016, IUCN Red List assessors used only two subspecific names: P. l. leo for African lion populations, and P. l. persica for

13108-520: Was distributed in the Asian and African Palearctic since at least the early Pliocene . The earliest fossils recognisable as lions were found at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania and are estimated to be up to 2 million years old. Estimates for the divergence time of the modern and cave lion lineages range from 529,000 to 392,000 years ago based on mutation rate per generation time of the modern lion. There

13224-951: Was present in the Caucasus until the 10th century. It lived in Palestine until the Middle Ages and in Southwest Asia until the late 19th century. By the late 19th century, it had been extirpated in most of Turkey. The last live lion in Iran was sighted in 1942, about 65 km (40 mi) northwest of Dezful , although the corpse of a lioness was found on the banks of the Karun river in Khuzestan province in 1944. It once ranged from Sind and Punjab in Pakistan to Bengal and

13340-431: Was severely damaged in the 2013 flood in southern Alberta. Over 5,000 people participated in a public process that is underway in 2010 to develop a master plan for St. Patrick's Island. In modern times, the community is recognized as a "distinct bobo (bohemian/bourgeois) residential neighbourhood" and having a high degree of walkability . In 2013, Bridgeland/Riverside was ranked by Fast Forward Weekly magazine as

13456-525: Was swamped. Destination Africa opened in 2003 to include two new facilities The TransAlta Rain Forest and the African Savannah. The zoo opened Penguin Plunge, an Arctic/Antarctic penguin addition in 2012. In April 2013, the Calgary Zoo announced a master plan for rebuilding the zoo over 20 years. The initial focus on the master plan was preparing for the arrival of two giant pandas in 2018 for

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