Hello!
You are being asked to participate in a Shoals-wide survey regarding UNA’s rich 50-year tradition of housing live lions on campus grounds. Since the passing of Leo III, President Kitts has established the Special Committee on Live Lions to:
- Meet with UNA officials regarding lion succession on campus with respect to facilities and resources.
- Review current Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) guidelines for lion care.
- Seek feedback from constituents including UNA campus community members, alumni, Florence/ Shoals community members, and other interested groups.
- Seek guidance and input from vets, handlers, and zoo management as necessary.
The feedback of the north Alabama community plays a vital role in this process and outside input regarding this decision is of great importance to the committee and President. Before answering the following questions, we encourage you to first review the following details to gain a more in-depth perspective on the committee’s current analysis.
- In 2000, the Board of Trustees explicitly referenced UNA’s commitment to align lion protocols with AZA standards. Animal habitats and enclosures that are AZA certified meet the highest standard of animal care and welfare.
- The cost for bringing live lions back to campus would be $5-7 million which includes the habitat expansion to meet AZA guidelines, purchase of the lions, and a sustainable source of revenue to fund a skilled, full-time caretaker, provide for the veterinary care and food, etc.
- UNA will not fund live lions on campus based on student tuition.
The committee has taken the complicated and costly nature of this project into account, while also remaining mindful of the rich and meaningful history of this iconic species at UNA. This is a sensitive subject we approach with humble, pure intentions and with the interest of the community at heart. Please know, your responses are completely anonymous.
We thank you for your participation,
Special Committee on Live Lions, 2024