The Birth of These 3 African Lion Cubs at a Zoo in New Orleans ‘Is Vital to the Survival of This Iconic Species’

New cubs person taken their spot successful nan circle of life astatine a New Orleans zoo.

The Audubon Zoo welcomed 3 patient African lion cubs aft their mom, Kali, gave commencement to them connected Oct. 19, nan zoo announced connected Oct. 29. 

Kali and nan cubs’ dad, Arnold, made Audubon Zoo history by becoming nan first lion brace to person 3 surviving cubs successful a litter.

“Every lion cub commencement is captious to nan endurance of this iconic species,” Audubon Nature Institute President and CEO Michael J. Sawaya said.

The cubs and their mother will not beryllium introduced to their pridefulness astatine nan zoo for astir 12 weeks to springiness them clip to enslaved and get vaccinations.

The cubs’ father and aunts, Nia and Zuri, will enactment successful nan zoo’s lion exhibit.

Kali and Arnold antecedently welcomed 2 antheral cubs successful 2020, which had marked nan first lion births astatine nan zoo since 1984.

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“Our dedicated animal attraction squad has worked tirelessly to get this pridefulness fresh for these caller arrivals,” said Daine Appleberry, Audubon Zoo’s elder vice president and managing director. “Watching these cubs turn will animate our guests to study much astir lions and really to protect them.”

The zoo emphasized that Africa’s lion population, which is listed arsenic a "vulnerable" species, has declined by half successful nan past 25 years “due to residence loss, poaching and reduced prey availability.”