BUFFALO — For the second time in just over as many months, the Buffalo Zoo is getting more catty.
Zoo President & CEO Dr. Donna Fernandes announced on Monday, the birth of three African lions. The litter, born May 12 at the Zoo is comprised of two females and one male. The nearly eight-week-old cubs are the first for mother Lusaka (6) and father Tiberius (3). Both adult lions are the offspring of native African lions and were paired as a result of a Species Survival Plan (SSP) recommendation. Lusaka was born at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington D.C. in 2010 and Tiberius was born at the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, NY in 2013. They arrived to Buffalo in 2013 and 2014 respectively.
“We were so excited to share the news at the end of April about Tobias, our first lion cub in twenty- five years, so the media and the public can imagine our excitement at sharing the news about three more cubs and our growing lion pride,” Dr. Fernandes expressed. Tobias made his public debut on Father’s Day, and has not disappointed visitors as he navigates the large boulders and other elements of the exhibit in an effort to be as nimble as his parents.
The cubs recently underwent their first health check-up and weighed-in between eleven and thirteen pounds. Unlike Tobias, who was bottled-fed with formula through the protective mesh enclosure, the new cubs have been fed exclusively by their mother, with the only human interaction the result of their health screening. “The overall comparison between the experiences of each lioness underscores the fact that each case is different. We are simply thrilled at our ability to contribute to conservation efforts of the species through public awareness and, of course, through the eyes of a child, “ added Dr. Fernandes.
The next steps for lion keeper staff are to complete introductions of the lionesses and all four cubs, with a final introduction of Tiberius to the entire pride. Once this process is completed, and unless completed sooner, it is expected that the newest cubs will make their public debut in August. In the meantime, the Zoo will keep the public updated through its social media pages, including any decisions concerning how the cubs will be named.
African lions are classified as vulnerable in the wild by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service takes a stronger stance, classifying the African lion as endangered. Loss of habitat and poaching are among the key causes of this classification. Every cub born and successfully reared will make a difference.
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