ZooBorns

Eight Lion Cubs Muddy Their Noses at Longleat Safari and Adventure Park

A spot of rain did nothing to dampen the spirits of eight Lion cubs at Longleat Safari & Adventure Park as they ventured outside for the very first time this week. The eight cubs, four males and four females, were born back in August, but hadn’t joined the rest of the pride until now. 

They certainly made up for lost time. Even the pouring rain didn’t seem to be a problem for the youngsters, who played and explored their new surroundings under the watchful gaze of moms Nikata and Louisa. Both the first-time mothers have impressed keepers with their attentive behavior.

Within minutes of being released, the cubs were covered in mud and leaves and were taking turns trying to balance their way along a slippery fallen tree trunk. Several of the braver individuals practiced their ambush skills on Mom, although they were rather more cautious when dad Hugo came over to say hello.

Keeper Bob Trollope said, “Both mums have four cubs with two of each sex. Hugo is also a first time father, but he's considerably less interested in the youngsters and soon went back to what male lions do best – sleeping!” 

Longleat is famed for its Lions, which are kept in two separate prides. However this is the first time the ‘woodland’ pride has had cubs. At birth the cubs weighed just 2.2 pounds (1 kgm), but they now tip the scales at almost 18 pounds (8 kgs)! Males usually reach their full size by the age of two, while females will be about three years old before they’re fully grown. Adults can weigh up to 440 pounds (200 kgs).

Watch Southwick's Zoo's Lion Cubs Grow and Play

Three African Lion cubs were born at Southwick's Zoo on October 23. Mom Savannah gave birth to two males and one female. One of the males is under the care of another zoological facility while the other male and the female remained at Southwick's. Their father is Leroy. 

The gestation period for a Lion is approximately 110 days. Young cubs are vulnerable to predation by hyenas, leopards and black-backed jackals. The cubs begin hunting at 11 months, but remain with their mother for at least two years. But because Savannah is a young, first-time mother, she didn't quite realize she had babies, so Zoo staff had to step in and help to raise them.

The cubs began to grow very fast....which can easily be judged by looking at the size of their paws - and those nails!

The female has become very adventurous and one day shimmied up a tree. Once she got up, she wasn't quite sure what to do from there. But she managed to figure out how to get down... which is all part of growing up!

Zoo Staff described the little male as "a typical, lazy male Lion," not as quite adventurous as his sister... but if you give him a ball or something to chase, he will "attack" ...then go back to taking a nap! One day he was given a big blue ball outside to play. Good thing it was hard plastic because he kept trying to dig his claws into it! 

Photo Credits: Southwick's Zoo and Photo 1, Laura Vear

See the two in action below:

Denver Zoo Welcomes Royal Lion Cub Trio From Qatar

The pitter patter of little paws can be heard at Denver Zoo's Predator Ridge exhibit with the arrival of three Lion cubs from the Royal Family of Qatar. The trio, made up of males, Tsavo and Enzi, and female, Sabi, were born June 24, 2012 and will likely only live at Denver Zoo temporarily until permanent homes are determined. Weather permitting; visitors can see the triplet cubs in Predator Ridge during the next few months of their temporary stay.

Photo credit: Denver Zoo

This is the first time Denver Zoo has had Lion cubs since 2006. The trio was donated by Sheik Khalid Hamad Al Thani, son of Qatar's ruling emir. He received the cubs' parents as a gift from the country of Sudan a few years ago. The Lions bred and the female died after a difficult birth. With the Lion family having doubled in size, the sheik contacted zoos in the United States that could better meet the needs of this Lion pride. Denver Zoo was asked to assist as Curator of Large Mammals Hollie Colahan is also the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Lion Species Survival Plan (SSP) Coordinator, which determines the best home for Lions in North American zoos. SSPs are cooperative animal management, breeding and conservation programs that work to ensure long-term species survival. Colahan travelled to Qatar, met with veterinarians caring for the Lions and personally oversaw the import process in late October.

Woodland Park Zoo Lion Cubs Get First Check-up

It’s a boy! And a girl! And a boy! And a girl! Last week, Woodland Park Zoo's four Lion cubs that you may have read about HERE on ZooBorns, received their first health check-up. The exam revealed the quadruplets, which included a weigh-in, fecal sampling and an overall assessment of their health. They’ll get the first of a series of vaccinations at the next exam coming up in a few weeks. The cubs turn four weeks old this Saturday.

Each cub weighs between 8 and 9 pounds (3.6-4 kgs), which is in the normal weight range for their age. Vets noted that the cubs had full, round bellies, meaning they’re nursing regularly. Adia continues to show excellent maternal skills, and she has herself some robust, healthy cubs.

Mom and cubs remain in an off-view maternity den that allows the family to bond in a quieter environment. The cubs will go out in the public exhibit when they are older and outdoor temperatures reach a minimum of 50 degrees. Until then, zoo-goers can watch recorded video of the cubs at a kiosk stationed at the lion exhibit or at Zoomazium. 

Photo Credit: Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo

Fuzzy Belly Alert! Woodland Park Lion Cub Update

These four baby lions at the Woodland Park Zoo were first featured HERE on ZooBorns on November 19. This just in: new pictures of the babies taken by keepers behind the scenes while three-year-old mom Aida was out on ehxibit getting a little break and some fresh air. 

At three weeks old, the cubs are doing well. All indictions show that they are healthy and growing as they should. Later this week the plan is to attempt their first veterinary check-up to get a closer look and a better assessment of their overall health and growth progress. 

Photo Credit: Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo

All Play All Day: The Dresden Zoo Lion Cub Twins

Meet Lion cub twins Abayas and Damien, born on August 1 at Dresden Zoo to 6 year-old mother Layla and Dad Jago. For the first several weeks Mom stayed behind the scenes with her babies to bond and keep close watch as they opened their eyes and began to totter around. But in just five weeks, she led them to the outdoor habitat, where they explored new things like grass and bark under her gaze. Eventually their father was introduced successfully, a decision that is left to the instincts of the mother to decide. 

Now the entire family is on exhibit together. Abayas and Damien, now 4 months old, spend much of the day (when not napping) playing with seemingly boundless energy, much to the delight of all that witness it. 

 

These babies are big on batting and nipping each other, all in good fun and practice for when they will prowl and pounce as big cats. Proof of this is to be seen in these pictures of them below, when they did the same thing when only three days old  -- and after, at one month of age! 

But sometimes, they just bite themselves... or attempt a snarl and swat game with Mom or Dad...

Photo Credit: Photos 1,2,4,5, 7,8: Jaqueline Meurer, Photo 3: Dresden Zoo, Photo 6: Knipsklaus

While Lions are considered to be king of the forest and plains, they are still vulnerable to changes in their environment due to man. Wild Lion populations have shrunken by half in some areas of Africa. This is why managed breeding in zoos is so important. It helps preserve a strong genetic foundation for this magnificent species. See more pictures of the Lion twins and the entire pride after the fold:

Cub vs. Stream: An Update on Zoo Antwerp’s Little Lion

Zoo Antwerp’s Lion cub made headlines on ZooBorns when he made his public debut about a month after he was born on August 29.  Now the male cub, named Nestor, has started exploring the Lion family’s large outdoor enclosure with his mother, Maouli.  (All of the babies born at Zoo Antwerp in 2012 have names that begin with N.)

As he toddled across the yard, Nestor’s biggest obstacle was a small stream in the exhibit.  After some hesitation, he dared to make the crossing, but alas, he fell in!  His second attempt was equally unsuccessful, resulting in another dunking (even though mom tried to lend a hand – er, paw).  But like the brave little Lion he is, Nestor was undeterred, and his third try was the charm – he made it! 

Like Nestor, wild Lions face challenges too – though theirs are much more serious.   Changes to their wild east African habitat have caused some Lion populations to shrink by more than half.  Zoos around the world are breeding Lions to maintain a healthy, genetically diverse captive population.

Photo Credit:  Zoo Antwerp

First Look at Woodland Park Zoo Lion Cubs Toddling Around

Three-year-old mother Adia and her four new cubs are together in an off-view maternity den at the Woodland Park Zoo, where the family can bond in a quiet environment. Keepers have been monitoring the litter via an internal web cam and are very pleased with Adia’s maternal care and protectiveness.

As a first-time mom, she’s providing attentive care the way a good mother Lion naturally does. The cubs continue to grow and are showing positive signs of good health. The zoo's intention is to leave Mom alone as much as possible without intervening. 

As part of the exemplary animal care and health program for the zoo’s thousand-plus animals, zoo veterinarians will perform health checkups every couple of weeks for weight monitoring, vaccinations, and critical blood and fecal sampling. All four cubs have opened their eyes; each appear to be nursing well and demonstrating increased mobility. The genders of the babies are not yet known.

Watch the video below to see the newborns cubs tottering around! And Mom does something funny at the very end.

 

Photo Credit: Woodland Park Zoo

Four Little Lion Cubs Born at Woodland Park Zoo

Three-year-old South African mama Lion Adia gave birth to four cubs at night on November 8 at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, after a gestation period of 109 days. This is big news because it's the zoo's first newborn Lion cubs in 20 years!  This is the first litter for Aida and 13-year-old father Hubert too. 

The babies are with Mom in an off-view maternity den where they can do that important, ealry bonding in a hushed environment. Expert keepers and veterinarian staff are closely monitoring the litter via an internal web cam to ensure Adia is providing excellent maternal care and the cubs are properly nursing.The first 48 to 72 hours after a birth are critical, particularly among mammals. Adia is a first-time mother so naturally there is concern, but we are cautiously optimistic she will instinctively provide attentive maternal care to her cubs. 

Photo Credit: Woodland Park Zoo

Lions are born blind and they’ll begin to open their eyes within a week or two after birth. As part of the exemplary animal care and health program for the zoo’s thousand-plus animals, zoo veterinarians will perform health checkups every couple of weeks for weight monitoring, vaccinations, and critical blood and fecal sampling.

The genders of the cubs are not yet known, but look for that news, and more pictures and video in future updates. Until then, watch the first video the zoo has shared with the public below. 

Read more after the fold:

Playful Lion Cubs a hit at Mogo Zoo

A pair of 2 ½-month-old Lion cubs made their first public appearance this week at Australia’s Mogo Zoo.  The cubs are the offspring of Snow, a female white Lion, and Mac, a male tawny Lion.

The Lion cubs, one male and one female, were born on August 9 have not yet been named.   Their mother Snow is one of several white lions imported to the Mogo Zoo in 2004.

The cubs are beginning to feel much more relaxed the exhibit, though they still remain close to their mother.  The staff at Mogo Zoo reports that Snow is “an amazing mother and continues to care for, protect, and love her new cubs.”   

Photo Credit:  Mogo Zoo