The new den of the lions - million dollar project for Max and Benny

In the corona crisis, the bankrupt vulture circled above Hellabrunn Zoo.

But now things are going on with the new lion den.

Munich - The lion brothers Max and Benny do not yet know that they are about to move - their home is expected to be ready for occupancy in spring 2022.

The topping-out ceremony for the new Löwen facility in Munich's Hellabrunn Zoo took place yesterday.

The shell of the lion's den is already in place: the project costs a total of four million euros, funded by the state capital and the city savings bank as a long-term partner of the zoo.

Hellabrunn Zoo: "The old lion enclosure no longer complied with the keeping guidelines"

Zoo director Rasem Baban explains why the two big cats have to move at all: “The old lion enclosure no longer complied with the husbandry guidelines.” The enclosure is only “tolerated”, so something new had to be found as soon as possible - for animal welfare .

And with a look at the construction site, the boss says: "You can already guess what a large outdoor enclosure it will be when it's finished."

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Hellabrunn Zoo: This is how much space the king of animals has

The kings of the animals can let off steam on around 2,400 square meters, including a covered retreat. The new lion house consists of three rooms - visitors to the zoo will only be able to look into one of them through a panorama window. Underfloor heating and a heated platform ensure a nice savannah temperature. Both inside and outside, everything should be modeled on the natural habitat of the lions, with plants and large rocks as reclining and viewing areas.

Another reason for the move is the previous location of the lion enclosure - it did not fit the concept of the zoo's geo-zones.

Up to now, Max and Benny lived in Asia in Thalkirchen in the "jungle world".

The new system is in the future geo-zone Africa - that fits.

The elderly brown bear lady Olga used to live where the new lion enclosure is being built - she died in 2018 at the age of 41.

Mayor Verena Dietl (SPD) is the head of the zoo's supervisory board.

She says: “It is important to us that Max and Benny are well accommodated.” The lions could really let off steam in their new home.

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Construction project in Hellabrunn Zoo: The new lion enclosure should be ready in spring 2022.

© Marc Mueller

There is enough space: "The facility is designed in such a way that after decades it would be possible to breed this endangered big cat again," explains Baban.

Up to four lions could live here.

The extent to which the animal population will change in the future has not yet been determined.

It is also not yet clear who will live in their old enclosure.

The corona pandemic has put Hellabrunn Zoo in financial difficulties.

Renovations had to be postponed.

The future of the lions in Hellabrunn Zoo was meanwhile on the brink.

Hellabrunn Zoo Calendar 2022 is here!

Attention animal lovers: the new Hellabrunn Zoo calendar * is available now.

Twelve special animal snapshots adorn the specimen for 2022. There is also a particularly powerful-voiced monkey.