Report favors return of live lion mascot, if money raised

FLORENCE — A committee created to look into whether the University of North Alabama should have another live lion mascot has suggested doing so, but only if the university raises the $5 million to $7 million cost needed to meet Association of Zoos and Aquariums standards.

Leo III died in May 2024 after 21 years of roaming the George H. Carroll Lion Habitat. His twin sister, Una, died in June 2020.

The live lion tradition began with Leo I in 1973. Leo II was brought to campus in 1988 and died in 2000. Leo III and Una arrived in 2003.

UNA President Ken Kitts formed the committee on Aug. 1, 2024. The group surveyed more than 12,000 stakeholders, spoke with animal experts and visited habitats.

A UNA release Tuesday provided a committee update.

“The members reported that the live lion tradition is important on the UNA campus and, therefore, it has suggested a continuation of that tradition,” it stated. “The recommendation comes with an important caveat, however, which is that live lions be reintroduced only in continued alignment with the national standards established by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.”

It went on to state the university would have to double the lion habitat in size to meet those standards.

“Making those updates, along with hiring a trained professional to oversee the care crew, would cost between $5 million and $7 million,” the release stated. “The work of the committee also included an extensive survey of onand off-campus stakeholders to determine if there was a desire to see a return of live lions to UNA.”

Kitts accepted the committee’s recommendations.

“The members of the Special Committee on Live Lions did excellent work on behalf of the university and I am grateful for the insights they provided,” he said.

“These individuals thoroughly studied the process of returning live lions to campus, and the group’s findings have been shared with the appropriate committee of our Board of Trustees. With that, Vice President Kevin Haslam and his team in advancement will work over the next two years to determine if donor interest in this project is significant enough to help bring the committee’s vision to life.”

Will Trapp, president pro tempore of the board of trustees, said committee members kept the community in mind throughout the process.

“I think they were trying to reflect what the community wants,” Trapp said. “They didn’t want to shut it down in case the public is interested in paying for it, but wanted to make sure the community knew what it would cost.

“That committee did a lot of work, really put a ton of time into it and pulled in some best practice from other zoologists. They definitely were very thorough.”

University workers will remove the habitat’s fencing to allow the area to become a green space while the option of expanding it continues to be explored.

UNA continues its Shine On, Gold Comprehensive Campaign with a $100 million fundraising goal for various ventures. The campaign includes a goal of $44 million for donorspecific purposes.

The university’s Office of Advancement stated in a July 31 social media post the overall goal is 89% reached.