Bahati in May 2020 playing hard-to-get before mating with a new male lion brought to Dallas Zoo to mate with her. (David Taffet/Dallas Voice) Bahati is one of my favorite animals at the Dallas Zoo.
I first saw her when she was just a few months old and she came roaring out onto the exhibit letting everyone know she was tough and in charge.
When Disney needed a model for its new version of The Lion King, they came to the Dallas Zoo to photograph her as their inspiration for Simba.
Earlier this year, the zoo brought in a new male to mate with her and it was hilarious watching the two interact. They sat on opposite sides of the exhibit.