Lions share thrills of the hunt

The LionDrover was based on an earlier model tested at the park

Experts behind a pioneering device aiming to give lions in captivity the thrill of hunting their prey are hoping to put it into production.

The LionDrover, an all terrain vehicle which has been decorated with zebra stripes, was designed to replicate many aspects of a carnivore hunt.

Funding is now being sought for the construction of six more, which could be sent out on a long-term loan basis.

It was the work of students from Strathclyde University.

It is hoped that the LionDrover, which was launched at Blair Drummond Safari Park in Stirlingshire, will encourage hunting behaviour only seen on the African plains.

The small remote-controlled vehicle, which has a top speed of 30 MPH, is an upgraded design of a previous model, the Lionrover.

The LionDrover has in many ways brought the Serengeti to Stirling Gary Gilmourm Blair Drummond Safari Park

The original concept was the brainchild of Stirling University psychology graduate Mark Kingston Jones, who will spend a year using the LionDrover to continue a research project on social and predatory behaviour.

"I believe this LionDrover will improve upon the results from the first study, which saw the females hunting and catching the Lionrover before the rest of the pride settled down around the device replicating the behaviour of lions on a kill in the wild," he said.

The machine was the work of four students from Strathclyde University's department of design, manufacture and engineering management.

It will be tested with a number of lion prides, packs of wolves and African wild dogs around the UK, while a third LionDrover is currently under construction.

Gary Gilmourm, manager of Blair Drummond, said: "The LionDrover has in many ways brought the Serengeti to Stirling, which makes for a more authentic life for the lions and a more authentic experience for our visitors."