Dublin Zoo have announced the arrival of a male Asian lion from Edinburgh Zoo as part of a plan to breed lion cubs from the endangered species.
Five-year-old Kushanu has joined nine-year-old female, Kamala, at the Asian lion habitat in Dublin.
The zoo said that Kushanu has been getting used to his new habitat since his arrival in March, and is forming a strong bond with Kamala and it is hoped the pair will breed and produce healthy cubs.
Dublin Zoo is part of the European Endangered Species Programme for the Asian lion which manages their population and breeding.
With the Asian lion classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the breeding programme for the species is vitally important, according to the zoo.
It is estimated that there are approximately 500-600 individuals left in the wild, due to threats such as habitat loss and poaching.
Today, Asian lions live in only one place in the wild - the Gir National Park and Sanctuary in India.
This means that Asian lions are also vulnerable to unexpected events in that area such as natural disasters or diseases.
Another significant threat is conflict with farmers when lions come onto their lands.
The lion has the loudest roar of all the big cats and can be heard up to eight kilometres away.
The male lion is the only cat that has a mane, which is an indication of their maturity and dominance. Asian lions have shorter, darker manes than African lions.
Asian lions are carnivores and are known as ambush predators; they hide from their prey and then charge at it, grabbing them before they can escape.
