Some of the world's rarest lions arrive at Chester Zoo
Nilay and Shanti have been paired through a global breeding programme
Last updated 5th Dec 2025
Two of the world’s rarest lions have arrived at Chester Zoo as part of an international effort to protect the endangered Asiatic lion from extinction.
The male, Nilay, and the female, Shanti, are around two years old and were chosen as a genetic match as conservationists work to secure the future of a species that numbers fewer than 900 in the wild.
Nilay travelled from Köln Zoo in Germany, while Shanti arrived from London Zoo. Chester Zoo’s carnivore team said the pair were introduced behind the scenes and “formed an instant connection”.
A new chapter for a species at risk
The zoo has been identified as a key site for Asiatic lion conservation, with a habitat recreated to mirror the dry forests and scrublands of India’s Gir Forest – the only place where the species exists in the wild.
Dave Hall, Team Manager of Carnivores at Chester Zoo, said:
“The arrival of Nilay and Shanti marks an exciting new chapter in our conservation efforts to protect one of the world’s most extraordinary and endangered animals.
Both lions are around two years old, which means they’re full of curiosity and youthful energy. They’re also that the age where they’d naturally start to leave their mother and become independent, which is why the time was right for them to join us here after being carefully matched together as part of the international conservation breeding programme.
Now that they’ve had time to settle in, we’ve successfully introduced the pair to one another in a special behind-the-scenes area, and the early signs are incredibly positive - they appear to have an instant connection, with lots of affectionate head rubbing and playful behaviours being shown to one another.
We’re hopeful that as their bond grows stronger, we may one day have a pride again here at Chester, which would be another truly special milestone for the safety-net population of Asiatic lions.”
Why these lions matter
Asiatic lions once roamed across Africa, Greece, Turkey and Asia but now survive only in a single Indian forest. This isolated population faces threats including disease, habitat loss and natural disasters.
Mark Brayshaw, Head of Mammals at Chester Zoo, said:
“Lions are one of the planet’s most iconic and admired animals, symbolising strength and courage in many cultures around the world. But these majestic cats are facing a fight for survival, with their wild population now limited to just a small pocket of forest in India - making them incredibly susceptible to threats such as poaching, disease and habitat loss.
That’s why global conservation breeding programmes are so vitally important. By creating a safety-net population in zoos like ours, we can ensure that these incredible animals don’t disappear altogether like others in the past. At the same time, we’re part of conservation efforts in India and across Asia, where our teams are to working to protect highly threatened species and the landscapes they depend upon, so they can go on to thrive long into the future.”
Asiatic lions have several distinct features compared with their African relatives, including shorter manes and a characteristic belly fold. Their roar can reach 114 decibels and be heard up to 8km away.