Jerusalem Zoo Prepares to Receive Israel’s Newest Oleh

A new and rare Asiatic lion is to land at Ben Gurion Airport on a flight from Sweden Thursday night and will take up lodgings at the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, taking the place of the male lion that died last summer at the age of 16.

The newcomer, named Gir, is aged 2 and will join the zoo's resident lioness Ileniya, who is 16 years old.

Zookeepers said they will make sure the youngster and the older female appear ready to get along with each other before letting them roam in the same den.