A Little Lion's Earth Day Debut

The Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo welcomed its first lion cub in 31 years late last year. Little Moxie makes her debut today on Earth Day. 

Photo credits: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS

Zoo Director Jim Breheny, says the little girl is "a scene-stealer with a spunky and playful personality," and these pictures back him up. Wild lion conservation is a priority for the Wildlife Conservation Society, which has researchers in Africa trying to manage the collective challenges posed by poaching and habitat destruction. 

FIRST LION CUB BORN IN 31 YEARS 

AT WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY’S 

BRONX ZOO

 

A SPECIAL TREASURE FOR EARTH DAY

 

Bronx, NY – April 22, 2009 -- The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo is celebrating this Earth Day, April 22, with the debut of a lion cub. An adult male named M’wasi and young adult female, Sukari, were introduced to each other in 2008 as part of a cooperative zoo breeding effort. After the courtship, “Moxie” was born on November 6, 2008, weighing about 3 pounds at birth. Moxie could grow to be 350 pounds as an adult.

 

“We have waited a long time for this birth,” said Jim Breheny, WCS Director of the Bronx Zoo.  “She is definitely a scene-stealer with a spunky and playful personality. We are pleased to debut her on Earth Day. We are certain that Bronx Zoo-goers who are coming out for our WCS Run for the Wild this Saturday and the last weekend of our Earth Month celebration will enjoy seeing our new cub.”

Lions live in grasslands and open woodlands across much of sub-Sahara Africa.  Their Lion Island home at the Bronx Zoo’s African Plains depicts this habitat. This popular exhibit opened in 1941 to record crowds and is still an emblematic home for this icon species. The exhibit showcases African wildlife in a predator-prey setting with a moat separating them.

WCS in the Field

Across Africa, l