The MGM Lion is one of the most enduring symbols of modern
cinema. So it comes as no surprise that the MGM
Grand Hotel in Las Vegas pays tribute to the great
beast by including a live exhibit inside. Started
at the end of the last century, the MGM Lion Habitat is
located at the south side of the casino, and even comes
with a mission statement: To honor the lion and safeguard
its preservation for future generations.
The MGM Lion Habitat is really just their home away from home. A handful of the cats are driven in each day from their main lodging, a giant ranch just outside Las Vegas. The cats are rotated throughout the week so that none of them have to make the trip each day.
The MGM Lion itself appears monstrous inside
the casino. Though the cats have a tendency to sleep
long hours throughout the day, there are occasional shows
where the handlers feed and entice the lions to play.
The feeding is fairly low-key, looking mostly like raw
hamburger mixed with cat food, while their attempts to
play are surprisingly clumsy for such regal animals.
There are also periodic lectures about the lions meant
to generate awareness about conservation, plus to educate
listeners on some of the lesser known facts of the lives
of the kings of the jungle. It might not be as exciting
as winning a grand at the craps tables or going skydiving,
but seeing the lions up close can make for quite an exhilarating
time.
The MGM Lion Habitat is over three stories tall, and divides into three separate levels. The lions mainly congregate on the top two, where artificial rocks, a waterfall and native plants do their best to replicate the jungles of Africa. There is also an immense skylight that allows the lions to bask in the desert sun above the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.
The lions usually appear with their handlers, or alone.
They spend a lot of time sleeping, though, so it’s
best to visit the Lion Habitat when the cats are being
fed or at play, which is usually when the handlers join
the lions behind the plexiglass. One of the great
features at the MGM Grand Hotel Las Vegas Nevada is the tunnel,
also made of plexiglass, that traverses the second level
of the habitat and allows visitors to get right up close
to the animals. For whatever reason, the MGM lions
always seem to enjoy lounging above the tunnel, so you
can usually stand within a few inches of them. And
even though the habitat is found in one of the most widely
traveled casinos, not to mention being just a short walk
away from the wildly popular New
York New York, Luxor and Monte
Carlo casinos, there is not often a huge crowed to
see the lions.
The MGM Lion is, of course, a full-grown male, few of which spend much time inside the Lion Habitat. But if you are lucky, you may get to see one or two of the new lion cubs at play, which is far more exciting.
