Leo III and Una are a point of pride for the community and UNA earns its bragging rights by being the only school in the country with live lion mascots on campus property.

Leo III and Una, twins born Nov. 18, 2002, reside at the George H. Carroll Lion Habitat located inside the university’s main entrance.

The lions have been with Anne Howard, their appointed caretaker, since they were born. She kept them in her home and bottle-fed them when they were young cubs.

Howard said one of the most important aspects of keeping the lions happy is maintaining cycles.

“They need continuity — the same people and contact. Everything has to be on schedule for them,” she said. “That’s why we can’t have student workers or volunteers because they graduate and leave on spring break and during the summer.”

Howard said she is with Leo III and Una everyday from about 7:30 a.m. until after they eat dinner around 5:30 or 6 p.m. Leo and Una are accustomed to the four volunteer workers who assist Howard with caring for them.

The lions have round-the-clock access to a climate-controlled room, maintained at a constant 70 degrees year-round, so they do not get too hot or cold, even in the most extreme temperatures.

The lions’ habitat features nine surveillance cameras outside and six inside.

“We can see the lions at all times. Whether they are inside the habitat or in the room where the temperature is controlled, we can make sure they are okay,” Howard said.

A fence with two brass locks guards the lion habitat’s back entrance. Once it is opened, a security code must be entered into a secret box to open the door.

If the code is not entered within a certain amount of time after the gate is opened, the UNA Police Department will be notified.

Howard said only five people know the codes.

“Even the UNA police officers don’t know the code,” she said. “Nobody’s getting in unless they are supposed to be.”