It’s a lovely excuse for a visit.

Fota-born Asiatic lioness, Arya, has returned to Fota Wildlife Park from Helsinki Zoo as part of European Endangered Breeding programme

The six-year-old big cat spent a period of four years in Helsinki, where she was transferred under the European Endangered Breeding programme with her sister, Amira to live with their maternal grandmother.

Arya and Amira were the two female lionesses born from the first-ever litter of Asian lions at Fota Wildlife Park. Arya, Amira, and Loki, a male, were born from their mother Gira, and Dad, Shanto in August 2017.

Arya has been back on Leeside since July, when the process of reintegrating her at the park began.

“It’s just amazing to see Arya back in the place she was born, mixing with her mother Gira and aunt Gita,” said Lead Ranger, Julien Fonteneau.

“It’s rare that an animal would be sent back to the place they were born, and we are thrilled that she is back home so to speak.

“The European Breeding Programme approved of her relocation after four years in Helsinki as unfortunately she was ousted by the other lionesses there. Once at Fota, there was a long reintroduction process that involved very careful planning and socialisation to ensure that she settled into the pride, who were essentially her Mum and aunt, plus the new male, Yali.

“This took place over many weeks, it’s a very specialised process, that’s very much dictated by the needs and the responses of the individual animals.

“However, we’re delighted to say that she’s a lot less shy than she initially was and appears to have bonded very well with the pride.”

Julien continued, “Arya has been recommended to breed with Yali, and judging by their interactions to date, we may not be waiting that long for our next litter!”

Asiatic lions were once widespread from the Mediterranean to India and Iran, covering most of Southwest Asia, where it was also known as the Persian lion, however, there are now fewer than 600 left in the wild.

Planning a visit this spring? Fota Wildlife Park is open daily from 9.30am.