The Oklahoma City Zoo announced the birth of four African lion cubs on Friday, marking the first African lion cub births at the zoo since 2007.
The cubs were born on Monday at the zoo's Lion Overlook Habitat to 7-year-old Dunia. The cubs consist of three females and one male.
“We are incredibly excited to share the news about the recent additions to our African lion pride,” said Tyler Boyd, OKC Zoo’s curator of carnivores. “Throughout her pregnancy, birth and now care of these four cubs, Dunia has been amazing and is showing excellent maternal care. This birth is vital to the African lion population and has been a culmination of years of hard work, dedication and commitment by the Oklahoma City Zoo and its supporters, the African Lion SSP and the Zoo’s carnivore care team. We cannot wait to watch these cubs grow up and become fan favorites for years to come.”
The zoo participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan for African lions, which made the recommendation for Dunia to breed with the zoo's male lion, 10-year-old Hubert. This is the first litter born to this breeding pair.
The zoo said Dunia and her cubs are in good health and will remain behind-the-scenes in their indoor dens at Lion Overlook as they spend time together bonding.
Dunia was in labor for just over seven hours. Each cub weighs 2 to 2.5 pounds and all have opened their eyes.
The zoo said the quadruplets will remain off public view until they are old enough to receive their first round of vaccinations and safely navigate their outdoor habitat.
Caretakers will introduce pride members dad, Hubert, and lioness, Moto, Dunia’s sister, to the cubs through a “howdy” process in the near future.
"Hubert and Moto will be able to see and smell the cubs but not share space with them," zoo officials said in a news release. "This will be very a gradual process guided by Dunia’s comfortability and positive behaviors from all individuals. Once caretakers witness these behaviors they will proceed with the next step of the introduction process and bring the pride together."
African lions are classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature with wild populations decreasing due to illegal hunting, habitat loss, loss of food sources and conflict with humans.
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