Zoo hopes lion rises to challenge

Ngala, in the background, will take over siring duties from Lazarus, right. Photo / Michael Craig

After nine years of waiting, Ngala the lion will have the ladies at Auckland Zoo all to himself.

The 10-year-old will be the sole male in the pride with dominant male Lazarus going to Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, Australia, on Wednesday. Lazarus' dominance meant Ngala has been left to watch as his comrade fulfilled breeding duties with the zoo's three female lions. Both males came to the zoo in 2003 after being orphaned as cubs in Africa.

Zoo Pridelands section team leader Nat Sullivan says both lions are genetically valuable because they were born in the wild.

After fathering six cubs in Auckland, it's time for Lazarus to move on and let Ngala shine.

"Hopefully, once Laz goes, he will step up. Give it a few days and I'm sure he will slot right in," Sullivan says.

Lazarus will cross the Tasman in a 1.3m x 1.9m crate in a cargo plane, accompanied by zoo keeper David Crimp.

The Tasman Cargo Airlines 757 freighter regularly flies horses to Australia, but none will share the flight with Lazarus. Instead, the 199kg lion will travel, unsedated, with a cargo of mail, clothing, shoes and fresh fish.