First health checks reveal the gender of our lion cubs

Our three lion cubs have had their first health checks and the news everyone has been waiting for has finally been revealed.

Led by Section Manager, Adam Kenyon, our veterinary and animal care teams carried out the checks as quickly as possible to minimise any stress for the young lions, with the genders being confirmed at two boys and a girl.

Each cub spent around five minutes away from mum Hira, who kept a very close eye on proceedings. They were weighed, vaccinated, microchipped, given worming medication and externally examined by the vet. A small amount of fur was also taken from each cub for DNA analysis.

The cubs were born on Sunday 26th July, marking the first time we have welcomed lion cubs in more than a decade. It was a very special moment for the team as Khari, the cubs’ father, was the last cub to be born there and keeper Adam was present when he underwent his first health check.

He met his cubs for the first time last week and the initial introductions went well. The youngsters will have their second vaccinations at around 12 weeks old and the we are set to announce more details about how they will be named in the coming weeks.

Adam Kenyon, Section Manager, said: “I remember when Khari was born like it was just yesterday, so to be carrying out health checks on his own cubs 11 years later is a real full-circle experience for the team.

“The health checks were very quick because we wanted to make sure the cubs were given everything they needed while keeping them as calm and stress-free as possible.

“We are delighted to confirm that we have two boys and a girl and we’re looking into options for how we are going to name them.

“For visitors wondering who is who, the two lighter-coloured cubs are male and the darker cub who has more prominent markings is the female.

“After more than a decade without a lion birth, the arrival of Khari’s three cubs is an exciting new chapter for the pride.”

The arrival of these three cubs is a vital milestone for the international breeding programme dedicated to safeguarding the future of the African lion, which is currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Wild populations face severe pressure from habitat loss, a reduction in prey and human-lion conflict so every successful birth plays a critical role in maintaining genetic diversity and raising awareness of the magnificent species.

The Big Cat Habitat has now fully reopened to the public. While visitors may be lucky enough to see the cubs during their visit, sightings cannot be guaranteed.

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