Courtesy of Akron Zoo

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AKRON, Ohio – After more than a year and a half of construction, the Akron Zoo is scheduled to open a new animal area on Saturday showcasing lions, storks and gazelle.

The “Pride of Africa” exhibit is designed to transport guests to the savannas of Kenya, with grassy wooden structures lining the newly developed area of the zoo.

The area was scheduled to debut on June 1, but construction this spring was delayed by rain, according to zoo spokeswoman Linda Criss.

Putting the “pride” in Pride of Africa are the Akron Zoo’s two prides of lions.

The zoo’s male lion, 13-year-old Tamarr, and 11-year-old female, Mandisa, are an “established pair” and make up one pride, Criss said.

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The second pride will be led by Donovan, a four-year-old male lion from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, who will be introduced to Kataba and Msinga, five-year-old sisters from the Philadelphia Zoo.

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A pride in the wild can be made up of two to 30 lions who are usually family members, Criss said.

Over the next several months, zoo staff will also slowly introduce Tamarr to Kataba and Msinga, and Donovan to Mandisa.

It’s unlikely that the males or unrelated females will meet, since their natural instinct would be to rival each other, Criss said.

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Courtesy of Akron Zoo

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The previous lion habitat was constructed about 20 years ago, Criss said. The new area triples the amount of space the lions have to roam.

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The large enclosure overlooking the lion habitat was designed to look like a community gathering place for the native Maasai people of Kenya.

Pride of Africa features signs with information about the Maasai people as part of the Akron Zoo’s partnership with Rebuilding the Pride, a conservation group that works toward coexistence between animals and people in Kenya’s South Rift region.

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The smaller, tent-like enclosure by the lion exhibit was designed after a Rebuilding the Pride research station. A monitor will show video of how the organization works with Maasai people, who are herdsmen, to keep humans and cattle away from lions.

There’s also an interactive Jeep where children can play and pretend they are a researcher in the savanna.

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Another interactive exhibit focuses on the clean-water crisis in Africa. At the base of a wooden water tower is a plastic playground merry-go-round, set up to simulate the 900 “Playpumps” in South Africa.

The Playpump uses energy from children and adults spinning the merry-go-round to pump water to an elevated tank, which can then be dispensed to a nearby spigot.

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While the zoo’s merry-go-round doesn’t actually pump water to its tower, a mock pump and weighted bucket demonstrate the process. On hot days, misting sprinklers will provide an aquatic addition to the area.

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Guests can watch different species interact in the grassland habitat. Four white storks and two crested guineafowl are joined by two Speke’s gazelle, a male and female.

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As an Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited facility, the Akron Zoo participates in species survival plans, which are breeding programs that work to ensure a genetically-diverse population of endangered species in zoos.

The Akron Zoo has breeding recommendations for Speke's gazelle and white storks.

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Courtesy of Akron Zoo

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A “boma,” or traditional Maasai livestock enclosure, will be home to seven Boer goats.

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A train ride takes guests around the back of Pride of Africa, offering them unique vantage points for seeing the animals.

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Pride of Africa opens at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 29. Beginning Saturday, admission is $13 for adults, $11 for senior citizens, $10 for children ages 2 to 14, and free for children under two. Parking is $3.

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Next summer, the zoo's Wild Asia area is set to open. Inspired by southeast Asian jungles and Himalayan forests, the exhibit will feature tigers, red pandas and white-cheeked gibbons. Both Wild Asia and Pride of Africa are about three acres, Criss said.

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