The three newest additions to the Detroit Zoo are working on their roars.
The zoo on Monday announced the birth of three healthy African lion cubs to 9-year-old lioness mom Amirah and dad Kalu.
“As a first-time mom, she has been wonderfully calm, attentive and nurturing, spending her days bonding closely with her little ones in a cozy, quiet den,” the Detroti Zoo said in an announcement.
A fourth cub was stillborn, the statement said, a “natural part of life for many wild species.”
The healthy cubs were born Nov. 23 and 24.
“African lions are vulnerable to extinction and endangered in some regions due to habitat loss, declining prey, disease and human-wildlife conflict,” the zoo said. “Welcoming these cubs is not only heartwarming — it’s a meaningful milestone in the Detroit Zoo’s commitment to conservation and the future of this iconic species.”
Amirah and her cubs will remain in their den away from the public for the time being, the zoo said. The other members of the pride, Kalu and Asha, will be free to roam in and out of their outdoor habitat during this period. The zoo said it anticipates it will be a few months before guests are able to view the cubs, when they are more mobile and able to roam larger spaces.
“We can’t wait to share more updates, photos and milestones as this joyful new chapter unfolds!” the zoo said.
The announcement comes less than a week after the zoo announced the birth of a baby giraffe.
jpignolet@detroitnews.com
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