The cubs were born at about five pounds each.  They now weigh in at about 25 pounds and have yet to be named.  Born, Jan. 27, they are very active, curious, and playing as hard as they can.

Photo Credits: Julie Larsen Maher © Wildlife Conservation Society

“Our new cubs are a wonder to observe,” said Jim Breheny, WCS Senior Vice President of Living Institutions and Director of the Bronx Zoo.  “After a visit with these cubs, you can’t leave without appreciating the wonders of wildlife even more. Our lions live in the zoo’s African Plains habitat, which is a naturalistic representation of the African savannah. Most of us will never take a visit to Africa. This exhibit will take you there figuratively, and we hope all will leave wanting to get more involved in WCS’s efforts to save wildlife and wild places around the globe.”

Photo Credits: Julie Larsen Maher © Wildlife Conservation Society

Sukari has been an extremely attentive mother, keeping the cubs in line as they explore their habitat. M’wasi has proven to be a patient and tolerant father even as his tail and mane have become prime targets of playful attack by the cubs.

This is Sukari and M’wasi’s second litter.  Their first cub, Moxie, was born in November, 2008, and was the first African lion cub born at WCS’s Bronx Zoo in 31 years.  Moxie got her name from her bold temperament while she was still a very small cub.  The younger cubs are being introduced to their older sister and soon the entire family will be on exhibit.

Lions live in grasslands and open woodlands across much of sub-Sahara Africa.  One of the most popular exhibits at the zoo, African Plains opened in 1941 to record crowds and is still an emblematic home for this icon species. This zoo habitat was the first to showcase African wildlife in a predator-prey setting separated by a series of moats.