PREVIEW

A trio of newborn lion cubs may be tiny – but they represent a huge conservation success at London Zoo.

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, with zookeepers able to monitor mum’s six-hour labour via hidden cameras.

Footage captured by the conservation Zoo’s ‘cubcam’ shows mum Arya giving birth, before tending to her tiny infants – gently licking them clean, before laying down to let them suckle.

As well as keeping a close eye on mum during labour, zookeepers have been able to observe the three-week-old cubs’ exciting milestones, including watching them take their first wobbly steps - all without interrupting their precious bonding time with mum.

The three 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 international conservation breeding programme for Asiatic lions ensures that good zoos are protecting an important ‘back up’ population of the Endangered big cats, and the cubs born at London will not only be part of this vital programme but will help to inspire millions of people to help protect wildlife around the world.

London Zoo’s head big cat keeper Kathryn Sanders said: “We are over the moon to be able to share the amazing news that we’ve had three Endangered Asiatic lion cubs born at London Zoo.

“Their arrival is not only hugely exciting for all of us here at London Zoo, but is a huge boost for the conservation breeding programme for these Endangered big cats. When the wild population is thought to be just 600 to 700 individuals, adding three to that number is a significant increase.

“Arya is proving to be a doting mum to her three cubs, and we’ve been able to observe some heartwarming moments via our hidden cubcam -from their first feed to their first steps. They’re getting stronger every day and we’re delighted with their progress.”

The three infants have so far spent all their time inside in their custom-built cubbing den with mum and opened their eyes after just 10 days.

Demonstrating her instinctive mothering skills, Arya has left her cubs only to find food or go to the toilet, before returning to patiently nurse her young.

Kathryn added: “We expect that the three-week-old cubs will likely stay inside with mum for a little while yet, although as the weather gets warmer, we might see them venturing outside soon. For now, we’ve got footage from the cubcam playing at Land of the Lions so that people can see what the new arrivals have been up to.

“We cannot wait for our visitors to be able to see them when they start to venture outside.”

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.