Blank Park Zoo broke ground on Tuesday on a new lion habitat that will support the conservation of African lions. The Marjorie A. Foster Lion Conservation Center will more than triple the zoo’s space for African lions and expand its role in global conservation efforts, a news release said. The zoo announced plans for the new lion habitat as part of an $18.1 million expansion project in October 2024. The new conservation center will be located in the Jamaa Kwa Africa section of the zoo. It is named in honor of longtime supporter Marjorie Foster. The new habitat is set to open summer 2026, according to the release. “Lion populations in the wild have plummeted by more than 40% in just three decades,” Anne Shimerdla, president and CEO of Blank Park Zoo, said in a prepared statement. “From advancing breeding efforts to helping our guests build deeper connections with these animals and the challenges they face, this new facility will link Iowa to a global mission to save African lions.”