Modern comforts for Queens of the jungle

Four lionesses Jade, Ruby, Gypsy and Queenie of Franklin Zoo and Wildlife Sanctuary have taken their rightful places on a new $1,500 custom built bed, fit for a queen.

Thanks to the generosity of Friends of Hamilton Zoo and some innovative building design, volunteers were able to replace an old bed with the upgraded model.

Retired engineer and Hamilton Zoo volunteer, David Croucher, was invited to visit Franklin Zoo and meet the lions. He promptly decided to undertake the challenge to design and build the new bed with some unique requirements.

The entranceway to the lions' night enclosure was so small it was not possible for a bed to fit through. So, Mr Croucher had to design the bed as a kitset.

"I've built a lot of animal enhancement toys over the years but this one needed some unique creative thinking," says Mr Croucher.

"The keepers' door is tiny – just enough to bend down and squeeze through – so I had to design each section carefully. Each part had to be small enough to go through the door, yet big and strong enough to carry the weight of two lions at a time. Plus, it had to be assembled inside the enclosure which meant no heavy tools or machinery could be used," he says.

The bed needed to be 10 feet long by six feet wide and four feet off the ground. Its steel welded legs also needed to be embedded in concrete, and the outdoor treated timber panels used for the bed's surface had to have gaps small enough to allow food to fall through but large enough so claws could not get stuck.

Franklin Zoo Director, Dr Helen Schofield, says the girls have hardly come off since the bed it was erected.

"Lions love being elevated and our lionesses are getting a great deal of pleasure from the bed. To encourage them to get down, we need to entice them with a big piece of meat. They also enjoy dangling their front paws over the bed's edge – because they're such a heavy animal, the light-weight feeling can bring them muscle and joint relief. Much like the way a child hangs their legs over a chair – it just feels good," says Dr Schofield.

Dr Schofield also says they are now enjoying watching the comings and goings around the zoo and the bed doubles up as a shade for them too.

"I think this is a work of art. We'll now be able to disassemble the bed if required and erect it in another part of the zoo when we upgrade the enclosure. We are very grateful to Mr Croucher and Friends of Hamilton Zoo for their generosity," says Dr Schofield.

Animal Fact: Male Lions Sleep with One Eye Open
Lions are nocturnal creatures. They hunt at night, usually when it is full moon. At dawn lions find a comfortable place to lie down and then they rest for the day. Male lions sleep up to 20 hours per day while the females hunt. However, male lions are never fully asleep because a male's role is to protect his pride of lionesses from other male lions. Usually, if two adult male lions fight over the right of a pride they fight to the death.

About Franklin Zoo
A non-profit organisation, Franklin Zoo is situated in Tuakau in the Franklin District area. It is home to over a hundred animals and birds such as parrots and cockatoos, ducks and geese, kea, pheasants, emus, morepork, a rescued hawk and other exotic birds. Other residents include the lions, lemurs, turtles, zebra, deer and otter. Set in tranquil rural surrounds, people are able to visit for picnics and parties, and join guided tours and experience wild encounters. Staff run a half day educational programme for children called Zoo Cubs and a three day course called Junior Zoo Keepers. For more information visit www.franklinzoo.co.nz