Northern lion
Panthera Leo Leo
Belfast Zoo is home to three male Northern Lions. Djibo, Kumo and Mao. The three brothers arrived at Belfast Zoo in July 2026 from La Boissière du Doré Zoo in France. They arrived as part of a European ex-situ breeding programme, helping to safeguard this endangered subspecies for the future.
Northern lions inhabit a range of habitats in the wild including savannahs, open woodlands and semi-arid landscapes. Living in social groups known as prides, they are a social cat species, working together to hunt, defend territory and raise their young.
As apex predators, lions help maintain healthy ecosystems by regulating herbivore populations. Today, many Northern lion populations are threatened by habitat loss, declining prey and conflict with people, making long-term conservation and habitat protection essential to their future.
Animal class
Mammal
Conservation status
The IUCN (The International Union for Conservation of Nature) has identified Northern lions as endangered.
Habitat
Savannas, open woodlands, grasslands, and semi-arid regions
Population
Fewer than 600 mature Northern lions are estimated to be left in the wild. They live in a small fraction of the land they once dominated.
Diet
Carnivorous: primarily antelope, zebra, buffalo, wild boar and other medium to large sized mammals.