Saint Louis Zoo Has Added African Lion to Exhibit

The zoo is welcoming a female lion named Araali as it works to pair her with a new male lion from another institution.

Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Wildlife

Screen-print poster illustration of a lion standing in tall grass, evoking the arrival of a new African lion at a zoo. — The Saint Louis Zoo has introduced a six-year-old female African lion named Araali, who arrived from the Denver Zoo to join the zoo’s collection. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Saint Louis Zoo has welcomed Araali, a 6-year-old female African lion, into its collection after her arrival from the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance. She is expected to make her first public debut at the facility on September 22, 2026.

Why it matters

Lions are a highly social species, making the integration of new pride members essential for their well-being. This addition follows the loss of the previous lions, Ingozi and Cabara, who were euthanized due to liver disease.

Araali is a 6-year-old lioness, while the incoming male, Bantu, is 12 years old. Previous long-time zoo residents Ingozi and Cabara were 17 and 19 years old, respectively, at the time of their deaths.

The players

Saint Louis Zoo

The institution manages a large animal collection and is coordinating the new lion exhibit.

Araali

A 6-year-old female African lion who moved from the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance.

Bantu

A 12-year-old male African lion who is arriving at the zoo from the Lee Richardson Zoo.

The details

Zoo staff will use a protective barrier to introduce Bantu and Araali to each other over the coming weeks. The pace of this process is entirely dependent on the individual behavioral responses shown by the two animals.

Late 2024: Ingozi was euthanized due to liver disease.
Early 2025: Cabara was euthanized due to liver disease.
September 2, 2026: Araali arrived at the Saint Louis Zoo.
September 22, 2026: Araali makes her public debut.

Culture Shift

The zoo's efforts to maintain a social pride reflect a broader institutional trend of prioritizing animal social welfare in captive environments. This move aligns with the reality that African lions have seen their total population drop by nearly 50% over the last thirty years.

Visitors to the Saint Louis Zoo can see the new lioness beginning September 22, 2026. The timing for when the two lions will be visible together depends on the success of their supervised introduction process.

The takeaway

Zoos often manage social species through careful, phased introductions to ensure the safety of the animals. Readers interested in supporting local wildlife efforts can check the zoo's daily schedule for updates on the new lions.