AFRICAN LION SAFARI

Have you always wanted to go on safari to Africa? Well, here's your chance and you don't have to catch a plane to the Dark Continent. You can visit the Africa Lion Safari in Cambridge, Ontario.

The African Lion Safari and Game Farm Ltd., consists of 750 acres where you can see over 1,000 exotic animals and birds. Many are endangered species and the park is helping to reintroduce them to their natural habitats.

Imagine seeing a pride of lions roaming at will, or a solitary male lion lying under a tree, gnawing on a bone. Watch baboons and monkeys climb onto the hood of your vehicle and peer at you through the windshield. See bison, giraffe, zebras and antelope stampede across the plains. Stand by a lake and enjoy the delightful antics of elephants bathing. All this and more is available to visitors at African Lion Safari.

African Lion Safari was founded in 1969, by Colonel G.D. Dailley. His goal was to preserve wildlife species that were endangered. When the park opened, there were 50 lions in three reserves. Today, more than 100 species and over 1,000 animals call the park home.

The park has succeeded in breeding 30 species on the Endangered Species List and 20 threatened species. In 1985, after working with African elephants for 14 years, the park began to concentrate on breeding endangered Asian elephants. Charlie Grays started the Asian Elephant Breeding Program. The park now has 8 female elephants and 3 male Asian elephants. The park, in conjunction with the University of Guelph, takes blood samples each week to determine the female elephant's estrous cycle. This is done by measuring progesterone levels. The goal is to determine the best possible breeding time.

African Lion Safari has established the Asian Elephant Breeding Program with no grants or subsidies. The park is an active participant in the Asian Elephant Species Survival Plan, which is sponsored by the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums.

African Lion Safari has provided animals for a variety of feature films, commercials, and television shows. A black vulture appeared in Highlander III and a bald eagle had a part in Wild America. The park has participated in Sportsman shows and has provided elephant rides and parades all across the country.

The park has been successful in captive breeding of several species of Macaws, African Gray Parrots, Gyrfalcons, Peregrine Falcons, Eurasian Eagle Owls, Barn Owls, Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles and East African Crowned Cranes as well as a variety of other species. It is active in reintroduction programs. The park donated 4 Burrowing Owls to the Manitoba Department of Natural Resources in 1990. The same year, one Bald Eagle was presented to the Missouri Department of Conservation. In 1992, three Ferruginous Hawks were donated to the Manitoba Department of Natural Resources. Barn Owls and Trumpeter Swans are being released in Ontario on a continuous basis.