Lion

Click here to see Ruby, lioness play with her sack of hay and herbs

We have one lion “Ruby” at 20 years of age she is a darling. Ruby does miss her best friend Jade, and we are doing our best for Ruby keeping her company and busy, we give her cuddles through the wire and groom her and hide treats and interesting toys in her enclosure. She has friends coming soon. Lions tend to sleep for 20 hours of every day, so don’t be surprised to find Ruby lying around! Her natural habitat is the grassy plains and semi-deserts of Africa.

Find out more about our Ruby at our daily Wild Encounters at 2pm.

Ruby's eye

African lioness

Animal Stories

Ruby, our African lioness /2011/06/lion/

Come and see Ruby our African lioness here she is lying on top of her den on a foggy morning

Xenopus African Clawed Frogs /2010/10/xenopus-african-clawed-frogs/

These unusual and fascinating frogs are new to the Franklin Zoo & Wildlife Sanctuary coming from Auckland Zoo.

Mila (Jumbo) the elephant enjoying her retirement at Franklin Zoo & Wildlife Sanctuary /2010/05/jumbo-the-elephant-enjoying-her-retirement-at-franklin-zoo/

Franklin Zoo and Wildlife Sanctuary in Tuakau has been the home for Jumbo (Mila) the retired circus elephant for the past eighteen months.
Sanctuary director and veterinarian Dr Helen Schofield says Jumbo has settled in to her life at the Sanctuary well and has developed close and affectionate relationships with her team of keepers.
“Jumbo is responding well [...]