http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/The-Houston-Zoo-got-an-early-Christmas-gift-A-12425399.php
The Houston Zoo got an early Christmas gift: A new lion
Published 4:09 pm, Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Christmas came a little early for the Houston Zoo this week as they welcome a new lion into the family. The 400-pound male lion named Hasani originally comes from the Oregon Zoo. The burly three-year-old is currently getting used to his new habitat and the three resident lionesses.
See more photos of this majestic-looking new Houstonian...
lessChristmas came a little early for the Houston Zoo this week as they welcome a new lion into the family. The 400-pound male lion named Hasani originally comes from the Oregon Zoo. The burly three-year-old is
... moreChristmas came a little early for the Houston Zoo this week as they welcome a new lion into the family. The 400-pound male lion named Hasani originally comes from the Oregon Zoo. The burly three-year-old is currently getting used to his new habitat and the three resident lionesses.
lessChristmas came a little early for the Houston Zoo this week as they welcome a new lion into the family. The 400-pound male lion named Hasani originally comes from the Oregon Zoo. The burly three-year-old is
... moreChristmas came a little early for the Houston Zoo this week as they welcome a new lion into the family. The 400-pound male lion named Hasani originally comes from the Oregon Zoo. The burly three-year-old is currently getting used to his new habitat and the three resident lionesses.
lessChristmas came a little early for the Houston Zoo this week as they welcome a new lion into the family. The 400-pound male lion named Hasani originally comes from the Oregon Zoo. The burly three-year-old is
... moreChristmas came a little early for the Houston Zoo this week as they welcome a new lion into the family. The 400-pound male lion named Hasani originally comes from the Oregon Zoo. The burly three-year-old is currently getting used to his new habitat and the three resident lionesses.
lessChristmas came a little early for the Houston Zoo this week as they welcome a new lion into the family. The 400-pound male lion named Hasani originally comes from the Oregon Zoo. The burly three-year-old is
... moreChristmas came a little early for the Houston Zoo this week as they welcome a new lion into the family. The 400-pound male lion named Hasani originally comes from the Oregon Zoo. The burly three-year-old is currently getting used to his new habitat and the three resident lionesses.
lessChristmas came a little early for the Houston Zoo this week as they welcome a new lion into the family. The 400-pound male lion named Hasani originally comes from the Oregon Zoo. The burly three-year-old is
... moreChristmas came a little early for the Houston Zoo this week as they welcome a new lion into the family. The 400-pound male lion named Hasani originally comes from the Oregon Zoo. The burly three-year-old is currently getting used to his new habitat and the three resident lionesses.
lessChristmas came a little early for the Houston Zoo this week as they welcome a new lion into the family. The 400-pound male lion named Hasani originally comes from the Oregon Zoo. The burly three-year-old is
... moreChristmas came a little early for the Houston Zoo this week as they welcome a new lion into the family. The 400-pound male lion named Hasani originally comes from the Oregon Zoo. The burly three-year-old is currently getting used to his new habitat and the three resident lionesses.
lessChristmas came a little early for the Houston Zoo this week as they welcome a new lion into the family. The 400-pound male lion named Hasani originally comes from the Oregon Zoo. The burly three-year-old is
... moreChristmas came a little early for the Houston Zoo this week as they welcome a new lion into the family. The 400-pound male lion named Hasani originally comes from the Oregon Zoo. The burly three-year-old is currently getting used to his new habitat and the three resident lionesses.
lessChristmas came a little early for the Houston Zoo this week as they welcome a new lion into the family. The 400-pound male lion named Hasani originally comes from the Oregon Zoo. The burly three-year-old is
... moreChristmas came a little early for the Houston Zoo this week as they welcome a new lion into the family. The 400-pound male lion named Hasani originally comes from the Oregon Zoo. The burly three-year-old is currently getting used to his new habitat and the three resident lionesses.
lessChristmas came a little early for the Houston Zoo this week as they welcome a new lion into the family. The 400-pound male lion named Hasani originally comes from the Oregon Zoo. The burly three-year-old is
... moreChristmas came a little early for the Houston Zoo this week as they welcome a new lion into the family. The 400-pound male lion named Hasani originally comes from the Oregon Zoo. The burly three-year-old is currently getting used to his new habitat and the three resident lionesses.
lessChristmas came a little early for the Houston Zoo this week as they welcome a new lion into the family. The 400-pound male lion named Hasani originally comes from the Oregon Zoo. The burly three-year-old is
... moreChristmas came a little early for the Houston Zoo this week as they welcome a new lion into the family. The 400-pound male lion named Hasani originally comes from the Oregon Zoo. The burly three-year-old is currently getting used to his new habitat and the three resident lionesses.
lessChristmas came a little early for the Houston Zoo this week as they welcome a new lion into the family. The 400-pound male lion named Hasani originally comes from the Oregon Zoo. The burly three-year-old is
... moreChristmas came a little early for the Houston Zoo this week as they welcome a new lion into the family. The 400-pound male lion named Hasani originally comes from the Oregon Zoo. The burly three-year-old is currently getting used to his new habitat and the three resident lionesses.
lessChristmas came a little early for the Houston Zoo this week as they welcome a new lion into the family. The 400-pound male lion named Hasani originally comes from the Oregon Zoo. The burly three-year-old is
... moreSee which animals were deemed the cutest by zoos in the gallery ahead.
See which animals were deemed the cutest by zoos in the gallery ahead.
PHOTOS: Zoos around the country show off their cutest animals
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: The Houston Zoo
Click through for images of some of the cutest animals in America...
lessPHOTOS: Zoos around the country show off their cutest animals
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: The Houston Zoo
Click
... moreA handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: New England Aquarium
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: New England Aquarium
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Los Angeles Zoo
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Los Angeles Zoo
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Zoo Atlanta
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Zoo Atlanta
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: National Aquarium
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: National Aquarium
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Clearwater Aquarium
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Clearwater Aquarium
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Memphis Zoo
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Memphis Zoo
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Como Zoo
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Como Zoo
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Philadelphia Zoo
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Philadelphia Zoo
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Zoo Miami
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Zoo Miami
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Toronto Zoo
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Toronto Zoo
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Cincinnati Zoo
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Cincinnati Zoo
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Cincinnati Zoo
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Cincinnati Zoo
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Toronto Zoo
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Toronto Zoo
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Stroop
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Stroop
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Elmwood Park Zoo
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Elmwood Park Zoo
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Shedd Aquarium
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Shedd Aquarium
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Queens Zoo
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Queens Zoo
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Marine Mammal Center
A handful of zoos and aquariums around the country began a battle of sorts, tweeting out photos of their cutest animals.
Photo: Marine Mammal Center
Christmas came a little early for the Houston Zoo this week as they welcomed a new lion into the family.
The 400-pound male lion named Hasani came from the Oregon Zoo. The burly 3-year-old is currently getting used to his new habitat and the three resident lionesses. It's common for zoos to move animals around to different facilities.
RELATED: Houston Zoo staff makes sure Zoo Lights fun agrees with animal residents
"Hasani is the first male lion to reside at the Houston Zoo since the passing of beloved zoo-icon, Jonathan, in September 2016" the zoo said in a statement announcing the arrival of Hasani on Tuesday.
When this vehicle stopped on the road at an animal conservation in South Africa, this lion named Shane started to snuggle up against the car. Shane licked the spare tire and then marked the car as his territory when he peed on it.
Media: Jukin MediaAccording to the Houston Zoo there is not a standing recommendation to pair him with one of the females.
Zoo staff says he's already found his own spot in the habitat atop from high, rocky boulders.
Craig Hlavaty is a reporter for Chron.com and HoustonChronicle.com. He's an intolerable native Texan with too much ink in his skin and too much brisket stuck in his teeth.
