PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Oregon Zoo is working hard to bring lions back and a major pledge from a donor is bringing them much closer.

The Jay and Diane Zidell Charitable Foundation gave $125,000 to the zoo, which brings the campaign total to more than $4.7 million of the $5 million needed to build the new 50,000-square-foot Predators of the Serengeti exhibit.

"This gracious gift from the Jay and Diane Zidell Charitable Foundation brings us closer to realizing our dream of bringing lions back to Portland,"

said Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "Their sponsorship of the Discovery Center portion of the exhibit will help our children make connections with Africa's most important predators."

The Discovery Center at the Predators of the Serengeti exhibit is a multipurpose room featuring hands-on artifacts, puzzles and games where children can play and make discoveries by doing.

"As longtime supporters of the Oregon Zoo, we are truly excited to contribute toward not only what promises to be an amazing new exhibit, but also toward the further awareness this new exhibit will provide for the endangered status of some African predators," said the Zidells. "It is our privilege to help 'bring back the roar' to Oregon, and we look forward with eager anticipation to seeing this exhibit open in 2009."

The lions will not be alone when they return to the Oregon Zoo in 2009.

Predators of the Serengeti will also include cheetahs, wild dogs, red-billed hornbills, dwarf mongooses and caracals.