HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Dozens of southern Nevada lions now have a new day job, roughly a year after their gig entertaining tourists in the MGM Grand casino on the Las Vegas Strip was phased out.
Owner Keith Evans recently opened the Henderson-based Lion Habitat Ranch to the public. For a fee, visitors can see the lions, try their hand at being an animal trainer, or spend personal time with cubs that are only a few weeks old.
“We wanted people to be able to do something besides just come and look at them,” Evans told the Las Vegas Sun (http://bit.ly/UsXjFH).
Evans has been keeping big cats at his ranch for more than 40 years, and transported them to the MGM Grand each day for 11 years until the casino’s habitat closed to make way for new development.
To develop the Henderson site, he built glass enclosures and safety barriers to accommodate about 40 lions.
“We also had to get the lions used to having strangers around,” Evans said. “They’re not used to seeing anyone else out here.”
Among the cats are seven cubs, born in two separate litters in November to sister lionesses Peebles and Rey Rey.
The habitat, which is open weekends, charges $20 per adult for general admission. One child under age 12 is allowed free for each paying adult.
For $800 or more, visitors can get three- or four-hour training sessions with the lions. Personal time with the cubs is $200 for two people for five minutes, and is available only through Jan. 2 because the young animals are getting bigger and older.
Although it’s no easy task managing the powerful kings of the jungle, Evans said it’s become normal for him after 43 years in the business.
“Lions are very social animals,” he said. “They’re not tigers, which are very solitary. There’s a risk for anything, but I feel comfortable around them, and I’m glad they can live here in our habitat and not in the wild, where people will hunt them for trophies.”
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Information from: Las Vegas Sun, http://www.lasvegassun.com
