Phoenix Zoo will open new exhibit next month. Meet the new animals

The Phoenix Zoo’s Predator Passage expansion will open in November after two years of construction.

The six-acre expansion is the largest capital project at the zoo to date and will welcome several new animals to the zoo and provide visitors with new experiences.

“It’s (the expansion) is tremendous, and a remarkable improvement and addition to the zoo. But I think ultimately, it’s about the animals and we’re receiving some amazing species,” said Drew Foster, the director of living collections at the Phoenix Zoo.

These animals will be joining Phoenix Zoo in new exhibit

Walking through the Africa Trail expansion, visitors will meet two new 5-year-old lionesses, Kamara and Zuri. The pair will be joining the Zoo’s male lion, Boboo, in their new habitat.

Another new addition to the lion habitat is a 200-foot tower visitors can climb to take in the animals with an ariel and 360-degree view.

Spotted hyenas will also join the zoo. Tamu and Taziki, who are a mother and daughter pair, will fill Predator Passage with their laughter.

Red river hogs Olive and Pugsley are another new addition to the zoo. The two are “full of personality,” according to the Phoenix Zoo website.

In the new addition, Predator Passage will also offer visitors a chance to learn about endangered species and how the zoo helps populations through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums species survival program.

“Some of these species are threatened with extinction, and the guests, when they visit, will be able to see these animals up close and personal in a way that they’ve not had the opportunity to do so at the Phoenix Zoo before," said Foster.

Jasper the Amur leopard is not native to Africa, but he’s standing in as an ambassador for the African leopard. There is an estimated 100 Amur leopards left in the wild and Jasper is part of the zoo association's species survival program to help save the species from extinction.

Rüppell’s griffon vultures are also a part of the species survival program and the new expansion. The new habitat houses 13 vultures and is better suited to highlight their ecological importance and the threat the species faces. Vultures are the most threatened group of raptors in the world, and the expansion will help the zoo better educate guests on their conservation efforts.

“The Phoenix Zoo is passionate about inspiring our guests and educating and motivating them to care for animals in the natural world—that’s our mission. This is a significant improvement to our ability to accomplish that mission and I’m really excited for guests to come out and see it next month,” said Foster.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Zoo to open Predator Passage exhibit, featuring new animals