Busch Gardens Florida
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In With a Roar: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Opens Lion & Hyena Ridge
With the grand opening of Lion & Hyena Ridge, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is giving guests a closer look at two of Africa’s most recognizable species while showcasing the park’s continued investment in presenting modern animal habitats and memorable guest moments. Susan Storey reports…
T
he new area officially opened July 25 as part of the park’s broader transformation and its planned $200 million, five-year
investment in new attractions, animal habitats and guest experiences. At the heart of the habitat is North America’s
largest coalition of lions in an AZA-accredited facility. The five young male lions — brothers Pascal, Lou, Henri, Hugo and Herman — were born in 2024 and came to Busch Gardens from the Oklahoma City Zoo as part of the AZA Species Survival Plan. They share the larger habitat with the park’s two spotted hyenas, Cazi and Dazi, although the species rotate through the space separately and do not occupy the same areas at the same time. The 38,000-square-foot habitat was designed
to encourage exploration, choice and enrichment. Rock formations give the lions places to climb and survey the landscape, while caves, dens, pools, waterfalls and other climbing structures
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create multiple zones for both species to investigate and relax, just as they would in the natural world. A chute system allows the park’s animal-care teams to rotate the lions and hyenas between the different areas, adding variety to their routines while supporting safe management of the space. Along with developing a modern and expansive
space for the animals, Busch Gardens designed the overall area for its visitors. Guests can easily watch the lions as they lounge on rocks or see the hyenas playing near a water spray feature created for their enrichment. “This immersive experience brings guests
face to face with these incredible animals while showcasing our continued commitment to exceptional animal care and creating unforgettable experiences for our guests,” Jon Vigue, park president of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, said during the exhibit’s grand opening. Behind the scenes, the habitat reflects months
of design and engineering work focused on animal welfare and guest comfort. Andrew Schaffer, vice president of design and engineering for Busch Gardens and Adventure Island Tampa, told Park World the park spent eight months building the habitat and its two distinct sides. “Everything was done with the animals in
mind,” Schaffer said. “For instance, the rock work provides resting and climbing spaces for them. Through an underground water system, the rocks can also be cooled and heated to add to their comfort throughout the year.” Large fans aimed into the habitat, multiple dens
and natural shade also provide additional ways for the animals to relax in the Florida climate. “This is an amazing time and opportunity for
us to be able to redo a huge habitat like this and represent the animals on a really big scale,” Schaffer added. “Seeing the animals out there, in a cool and new, modern environment means a great deal to our team. Continuing to create and
DARK RIDE EDITION 2026
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