Blair Drummond Safari Park could soon be roaring ahead with plans for a new lion enclosure.
Stirling Council planners have conditionally approved the safari park’s application to replace the current enclosure and demolish the existing one.
The new bigger enclosure will have a covered viewing area, at ground level, which is hoped to give visitors “greater access to the lions”.
Blair Drummond Safari Park is home to a pride of seven lions – all related to each other.
Two adult females, Karis and Libby, are sisters, and they both have offspring fathered by alpha male Zulu – who sadly died of leukaemia in March 2021.
Karis is mother to one boy, and two girls – Murray, Isla and Thistle – who were all born in 2016. Libby gave birth to two female cubs in 2019 – Hope and Faith.
The new enclosure will sit to north-west of the existing reserve – a key attraction at the wildlife park – and have a footprint of 31.95 metres by 10.1 metres.
In December 2020 one of two escaped Barbary macaques entered the lion enclosure where it was killed by the big cats in front of horrified families.
Click here for more news and sport from the Stirling area.
Two of the endangered macaques escaped from their own enclosure nearby. A member of staff successfully managed to coax one macaque back into its home unharmed, however the other macaque climbed a tree and jumped into the lion reserve.
Park bosses launched a probe into the incident and issued an apology.
Deciding to grant permission for the new enclosure, council planners said of the site: “The designed landscape was laid out between 1766 and 1782 to the design of Lord Kames, known for helping to introduce the ‘natural style’ of landscaping to Scotland.
“The existing lion enclosure has a footprint of around 8.2 metres by 18.25 metres and height to roof ridge of around 5.87 metres.
“The proposal to replace the existing lion enclosure with one that aims to meet current standards is supported by [Local Development Plan policy].
“The policy supports developments that complement existing tourist facilities, which this lion enclosure will as part of the larger Safari Park complex.
“Furthermore, the scale of the development and location is commensurate with the built and natural environment.
“Although the site is not in a formally identified location in the LDP for new tourist development it is within the boundaries of a long established tourist facility.
“The proposal will also contribute to the viability of the local rural economy…as by updating the lion enclosure, the facility is likely to keep attracting visitors.
“The proposed new lion enclosure has a greater footprint than the existing one.
“The covered viewing area at ground level will allow closer viewing by members of the public. This will promote greater access to the lions…in an accessible manner whilst providing protection from the elements that should create a healthy and pleasant place. The revised siting of the enclosure is appropriate…as it will also allow for greater access to the lions whilst ensuring the lions have a similar area in which to roam.
“As a result of the proposed location of the lion enclosure, around six trees of low quality (category C) are require to be removed and various saplings are to be relocated. The three individual trees of moderate and high quality will be protected by the development.
“However, the location will impact on the future growth of one of these trees (Red Oak) which will require some pruning as well as regular maintenance.”