Cute Guest: Lion cub takes up residence at Elmvale Zoo

CTV Barrie: King of the Elmvale Jungle Zoo The future king of the jungle has taken up residence at the Elmvale Zoo. K.C. Colby finds out what the future holds for Tobias the lion.

There is a new animal attraction in our region and he’s attracting quite the roar.

Meet Tobias, a seven-week-old male lion cub who is stealing hearts at the Elmvale Zoo.

“People love to see him, he's my best display,” says zoo owner Sam Persi. “I have others but people like the little lion the best.”

Persi says little Tobias will one day be more than 500 pounds and he already has a healthy appetite.

“We feed him three times-a-day - milk with a bottle and soon a special meat.”

But Tobias isn't staying in Elmvale forever. He and his three other siblings were born at the Bowmanville Zoo and plans are in place to one day send two of the four cubs across the ocean to an African wildlife reserve.

“Where they'll be able to breed and interact with the wild: hunt, kill and eat,” says Dirk Hackenberger of the Bowmanville Zoo. “Do what they'd normally do in the wild.”

Tobias is one of those cubs.

The Elmvale Zoo is only supposed to have Tobias until the end of September. But there is a problem. The longer Tobias is around the easier it is for zoo goers to become attached to him. And many patrons say there's a good reason why Tobias should stay.

“We know he's safe here,” says one fan.

“Because everybody here loves him,” chimes another.

Even though Tobias will one day be big and scary, he isn't now.

People are growing attached to the furry feline. Young fan, Sam, doesn't want to hand him back.

“I hope he's going to leave him,” says the hopeful child.

But just like children should be with their families, John Cranston says Tobias should be with his.

“Toby should go back so he can be with his family,” says Cranston. “And live a normal life, like he's supposed to live.”