ZOO NEWS

Australia Zoo experienced a surprise attack today from a pack of lions - the Brisbane Lions that is!

Coach Michael Voss, Captain Johnathan Brown and Vice Captain Josh Drummond from the AFL Brisbane Lions Football Club stopped into Australia Zoo today for a visit. The Brisbane Lions were on the Sunshine Coast promoting the AFL Australia Post Community Camps. The Brisbane Lions trio took time out to meet another kind of cat here at Australia Zoo, Bashii, our 115kg Sumatran tiger.

Coach Michael Voss was pretty happy with meeting our big boy Bashii.

"Whenever you start the day patting a tiger that just kicks off the rest of the day beautifully and being able to see the other animals here at Australia Zoo was great," Voss said.

"It is symbolic that we are able to launch the community program here at Australia Zoo because they play such a big role in the community with conservation and we want to be able to grow the Sunshine Coast area, so that really goes hand in hand," Voss continued.

The Lions players didn't visit Australia Zoo empty handed, bringing two bright pink Sherrin footballs as presents for Sumatran tigers Bashii and Kaitlin for being good sports.

Head of Big Cats Giles Clark said that our tigers love getting presents from visitors and this was no different.

"Bashii and Kaitlin were having a pretty relaxing time in the Tiger Temple but once they spotted the pink Sherrin footballs that were given to them by the Lions players it was game on," Giles said.

"Both Bashii and Kaitlin were very excited to have new footballs to play with, Kaitlin was straight in the water where she busted the football and Bashii lit up with excitement, producing a massive tree climb to get the other football."