84 - Addis Ababa Lion Zoo - Sidist Kilo, Ethiopian Journey, Blog Post no - 84.

Mathematics examination got over and next day was off for Pranav as he was granted an exemption from writing the hindi exam. He would have to take both 2 and 3^rd grade hindi exams in 2004.  Our family and Pradeep walked down from Arat Kilo to Amist Kilo.

We saw an imposing gate and peeped in to have a sight of Addis Ababa University, one of the most premier universities in Ethiopia. We did not venture in as we were eager to see one of the most popular Addis Ababa’s prime attractions -  Addis Ababa’s Lion Zoo, located in Sidist Kilo.

The Lion Zoo was established by Emperor Haile Selassie in the year 1948. It had Apes, Lesser Kudus, eagles and tortoises but the main attraction that drew all the visitors with a magnetic pull – to see the king of the African jungle, Lion from a close quarter.

Several lions, Lionesses and cubs were kept in Zoo but in cages. There was not enough space to house them in their natural habitat and our heart went out to the majestic beasts who were caged. They frankly appeared dejected and bored with the charade of visitors who would stand in front of the cages jeer, mock and call names.

The lion enclosure was a circular structure that had small cages for individual lions and Lionesses. Lion cubs were segregated and carefully nurtured in a smaller cage that they had exclusively for themselves. Once they grow up they would have a cage of their own.  The circular structure had an inner and an outer railing. There was enough space between the lions and the visitors. The inner circle allowed the keepers and veterinary doctors to access the lions as and when needed.

There was a Beautiful garden with lush green trees. A children play area with slides, merry go around, swings and seesaw was attracting the kids.

The lions kept in the Zoo were genetically similar to wild lions found in Cameroon and Chad. They looked like the Indian lions except that they had dark black manes. This was noticed by our two and half year ticking time bomb, Sai Sahithi. She looked at the Lions solemnly and asked, “Anna, why are the Addis Ababa Lions’ mane black unlike Indian Lions whose mane is brown?”.

Our resident professor Pranav Pratheek pondered and answered “hmmm, that’s a good question, Sahithi. Let me tell you. You see, we Indians are brown and that is why Indian Lions manes are dark brown and as Ethiopian lions belong to Africa and as Africans are black, their Lions’ mane too is dark black”. His eloquence and matter of fact smartness stunned us all.

Pranav had a sleeve up his arm, “Tell me Sahithi, why is that the lions mane is matted and dirty?”. Sahithi did not even pause for a second, “That’s easy Anna. Addis Ababa Zoo has ran out of its supply of shampoo. Once they get shampoo, each and every lion would get a shampoo bath”. All of us burst out in laughter much to the annoyance of the dozing lions.

The sight of the majestic lions bowing down their heads like matronly women in beauty parlour and getting their hair shampooed obediently flashed in our mind. Even today that mental image of rows of lions having shampoo bath and later getting their mane air dried remains etched in my mind.

The sky was overcast and the cool weather stimulated the lions. They became playful and started jumping around. Their jumping was the trigger. The crowds started cheering them on and soon all the lions were jumping and roaring. The skies opened up and it started raining. The downpour caught us unawares and we ran to the play area but there was no place to hide. We got drenched.  

All this was being recorded by a Videographer who had people assisting him with the film shoot. We were about to leave when one of the videographer’s assistant rushed towards us “Would you like to see the lions getting fed?”. We jumped at the offer. The keepers entered the inner circle and seeing the mutton slabs the lions got excited. The keeper would offer the meat through the bars and the lions would grab the meat and retreat inside. It was a gruesome yet riveting to watch.

This time the videographer himself approached us. They were from ETV (Ethiopian Television). They requested us to give some video bits that they could use. They were making a documentary about Addis Ababa’s Lion Zoo and wanted insights from the visitors especially foreigners.

I went back and said jauntily “ETV wants to interview us” “What!! ETV!! How come ETV has come to Ethiopia. Is Addis Ababa’s Lion Zoo so famous?” Pranav was shocked beyond belief. Then it struck me, Pranav thought ETV meant Eenadu Television the famous Telugu television channel in India and not Ethiopian Television.

I spoke first. I said “Addis Ababa’s Lion Zoo is very good, but I think that more animals should be added and children would love new animals, especially monkeys. If the government allots more land and allows the lions to roam freely, it would add to the drama. A safari too can be planned. That would make the Zoo more interesting”. Pradeep also spoke, he said, “It should be maintained properly”.

Pranav was on pins and needles, till he was given a chance to speak, he said “It is very good but the lion cubs are given a very small cage. They should be given a bigger cage” Sahithi added “I liked it very much”.