Four-month-old cubs Kamari and Zawadi, whose names mean "moon" and "gift" in Swahili, will make their first appearance in the Woodland Park Zoo’s outdoor habitat on Monday with their parents. The small predators were born on Jan. 14, nine hours apart, to first-time mother Ilanga and father Tandi. This is the first time lion cubs have appeared at the zoo since 2014, when Tandi and his two brothers were born.
Zoo spokesman Craig Newberry said the sisters are constantly romping, wrestling, tugging on dad’s mane and sleeping a lot. They weigh between 35 and 37 pounds — roughly the size of a small- to medium-sized dog. The father, who previously interacted with them through a mesh barrier, finally met the cubs in person last week after they grew to a safe size.
The cubs belong to the southern African subspecies Panthera leo krugeri, known as the Transvaal lion. Fewer than 25,000 of these animals remain in the wild, and they are considered a vulnerable species. Visitors will be able to watch the playful family in the habitat during scheduled viewing times — the lions will move freely between the indoor and outdoor sections of their home.
