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We’ve got news to share! There are some exciting new arrivals at London Zoo’s Land of the Lions - a trio of tiny lion cubs!
Born to seven-year-old mum, Arya, and 14-year-old dad Bhanu, the litter of three Endangered Asiatic lion cubs arrived on 13 March 2024.
Zookeepers were able to monitor mum’s six-hour labour via hidden cameras, and have been remotely monitoring their milestones since - as the newborn cubs are still spending their time tucked away indoors.
The newborn lion cubs may be tiny - but they represent a huge conservation success at London Zoo.
The three-week-old cubs are a huge boost to the conservation breeding programme for Asiatic lions, which are now found only in the Gir Forest in Gujarat, India. Recent population estimates suggest that only 600 to 700 individuals remain in the wild, and due to their reliance on just one habitat, they are particularly vulnerable to a disease outbreak or natural disaster.
The three cubs are yet to be named, with keepers unable to confirm the cubs’ sexes until their first vet check and vaccinations, which will take place when they are around 10 to 11 weeks old.
You’re unlikely to spot the cubs out and about just yet - but look out for the cub-cam video playing at Land of the Lions giving a sneak-peek into life as a lion cub.
London Zoo, as part of international conservation charity ZSL, is working to protect species like the Asiatic lion, and many other around the world.
Support from ZSL’s corporate partner @LiontrustAM enables ZSL to continue care for Asiatic lions like Arya, Bhanu and their three new cubs, and support partners in India to safeguard these big cats in their last remaining wild habitat, the Gir Forest. In return, ZSL’s corporate partners commit to sustainability, conservation and education.