The Lion, the king of the jungle reigns supreme within The Lion Habitat at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Vegas is known for over-the-top displays and events. This one is a must see.

The MGM Grand Hotel Lion Habitat was opened in July of 1999 and has proven to be one of Las Vegas’ most popular experiences, drawing more than 12,000 visitors a day. Enjoy the beauty and majesty of the Lion Habitat at The MGM Grand Hotel Las Vegas set to Jimmy Buffett's song Wondering Where The Lions Are from the movie Hoot. Longtime Vegas visitors roared with displeasure when the MGM Grand closed their signature lion habitat after nearly 20 years of amusing tourists. The big secret, however, was that populating those casino-facing digs was merely the lions’ day job, and their “main office” is now open for tours that are significantly more satisfying. Answer 1 of 12: I have just read in another post that the Lion Habitat at the MGM casino has closed. I know I will probably cop a lot of flack but I was really looking forward to seeing it.

This is a one-of-a-kind, indoor habitat that encourages hotel visitors to learn more about these majestic creatures and offer a unique opportunity to see these lions up close and personal.

The mission statement of the MGM Lion Habitat exhibit is – To honor the lion and safeguard its preservation for future generations. People love to see wild animals, so this is a VIP experience that should not be missed.

Floor-to-ceiling windows and a clear Plexiglas tunnel in the The Lion Habitat provide optimum viewing for guests of all ages. Up to six lions can be seen each day.

Actually, the Lion Habitat is just their home away from home. Several lions are driven in each day from a huge ranch just outside Las Vegas. The lions are rotated throughout the week. This ensures that none of them have to make the trip each day.

Although the lions have a tendency to sleep long hours throughout the day, occasionally informal shows will happen as handlers feed and entice the lions to play.

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Plans by MGM Grand to close its lion habitat at the Strip hotel received praise Thursday by a high-profile animal rights group that also criticized the lions’ owner for wanting to put them on exhibit at his 7.5-acre ranch in the south Las Vegas Valley.

A letter from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International, thanks Murren and Chief Operating Officer Corey Sanders “for your decisions to close the lion exhibit … and to offer our assistance in helping to relocate the lions to a reputable sanctuary.”

Citing news reports, the letter said the lions’ owner, Keith Evans, plans to put them on exhibit in Clark County.

“This plan is clearly not in the best interests of the animals. In their natural habitats, lions roam many miles of territory to hunt, raise their young, and avoid contact with people,” according to the letter Thursday from Delcianna Winders, PETA’s director of captive animal law enforcement.

The letter criticizes Evans for declawing lion cubs and for allowing trainers and handlers to have direct contact with the animals that led to two lion attacks at the MGM Grand.

Reached at his ranch southeast of the M Resort, Evans called PETA’s letter “baloney” and wished PETA “good luck” in their efforts to put his 40 lions in a sanctuary.

Mgm Casino Lion Habitat Logo

Evans said that he has held his U.S. Department of Agriculture license for keeping lions for 40 years and that PETA has a “bad track record” in its endeavors to keep lions in sanctuaries.

Yvette Monet, corporate spokeswoman for MGM Resorts International, said the lions that Evans transports for display at the MGM Grand are owned by Evans, “and he is entirely responsible to their care.”

Monet said the lions have always lived at Evans’ ranch, and many of them were born there.

On Wednesday, MGM Grand announced that its lion habitat and retail shop will close Saturday . The habitat, a free attraction, opened in 1999 for $9 million.

In her letter, Winders said that MGM has maintained a $1 million fund for the care of lions at the habitat, “and we encourage you to use these funds to relocate the animals to a reputable sanctuary. We stand ready to help coordinate such a transfer.”

Reached by phone late Thursday in California, Winder said an ideal sanctuary for the lions would be one operated by the Performing Animal Welfare Society, an organization, based in Galt, Calif., for abused and abandoned wildlife.

Winder said she has never visited Evans’ ranch but said the ranch doesn’t have enough space to provide for lions in a natural habitat.

Evans has said he intends to make his ranch a public attraction called The Cat House. He said he has completed the zoning and permitting requirements that will allow him to host private parties and tour groups.

The exhibit also might be open to the walk-in public, but he is trying to work out logistics such as staffing.

Contact reporter Keith Rogers at krogers@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0308.

Mgm Casino Lion Habitat Facts

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