Friday, October 13, 2006

The LionDrover.



A wildlife park near Stirling, Scotland has provided their lions a device intended to trigger prey drive and enrich their lives - the lion drover.
It's a small remote controlled ATV, painted with zebra stripes and carrying a pile of zebra dung.

"The machine was the work of four students from Strathclyde University's department of design, manufacture and engineering management.

It will be tested with a number of lion prides, packs of wolves and African wild dogs around the UK, while a third LionDrover is currently under construction.

Gary Gilmourm, manager of Blair Drummond, said: "The LionDrover has in many ways brought the Serengeti to Stirling, which makes for a more authentic life for the lions and a more authentic experience for our visitors." "


I listened to an NPR interview with the park manager last night. The lions will lose interest after they've "killed" the LionDrover. They're fed right after they kill it, to further replicate the hunt experience. He said the stripes were painted on it for visual appeal; the lions don't care one way or another but park visitors preferred it painted.
That's got to be one tough little machine!

5 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

The ultimate cat nip mouse!

11:22 AM  
Blogger Rossi2009 said...

*grin* You know, I think I'll require my meals delivered to me on a small tank. I think that would enrich my life a great deal ;-) Plus I wouldn't have to cook. I'll have Wade get right on that.....

2:11 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That's pretty cool.

9:40 AM  
Blogger Karen said...

amazing! what will they think of next!?!

3:51 PM  
Blogger yellowdoggranny said...

i think they should run the real thing thru there and let them have at it...

11:04 PM  

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