Lion Cubs Named!
Posted at 12:10 pm January 17, 2008 by Marcia ReddingFinally, the seven young cubs from Lion Camp at the Wild Animal Park have names! (See Marcia’s previous blog, Lion Cubs Meet Lion Cubs.) It took a bit longer than expected to come up with perfect names, but we are all pleased with the results. I have also included the identifying shave marks that help us keep track of who is who.
Oshana’s litter:
Female Tamu, shaved on left shoulder, means “good and sweet”
Female Laini, shaved on left hip, means “smooth”
Male Ekundu, shaved on right hip, means “red”
Male Zawadi, shaved on right shoulder, means “gift of God.”
Mina’s litter:
Female Kaya, shaved on back near neck, means “restful”
Female Sarabi, shaved on back near tail, means “queen”
Male Ingozi, no shave mark, means “danger.”
The cubs and their moms are together 24 hours a day now; both moms nurse and groom each other’s offspring. Dad Izu has had access to his family through an introduction screen whenever he is inside. The cubs are very interested in him, and the females are happy to interact with him as well. Last week, cubs and moms were given access to the release chute, an important step towards finally having the cubs on exhibit! We expect to have the pride, minus Izu, available for viewing sometime in the next two weeks. The kids will be allowed to become accustomed to the exhibit before dad Izu is added into the mix. Keep in mind that the family will at first be out for a limited amount of time in the mornings: it will take awhile for everybody to relax enough to be able to nurse and nap out there. Their behavior will be our guide.
Another important milestone was reached this week: Sarabi, from Mina’s litter, sampled meat for the first time. She has been consuming around a quarter of a pound per day so far; her siblings watch and sniff, but nobody else is interested quite yet. Sarabi is certainly a precocious girl, and she is from the younger of the two litters!
Individual personalities are emerging. It will be great fun to watch them develop as time passes. I will be sure to post when the cubs are available for viewing. It won’t be too much longer!
Marcia Redding is a senior keeper at the Wild Animal Park.
The lion cubs made their public debut on January 24, 2008. Watch video…
View images…
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January 17th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Did Sarabi “queen” get her name after she started eating meat? I was just wondering why she was given such an elegant name. Whatever did Ingozi do to be named “Danger”? Yes, cats, (all cats,) have distinct personalities. I can’t wait to see a picture of them all.
January 17th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
they are soooooo cute
January 17th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
How wonderful — we can hardly wait to meet these adorable cubs.
January 17th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
I can’t wait to see these adorable cubs and to watch the personnalities emerge as they get older. I will be there to see them the first day they are out. How exciting to be able to finally meet and see all seven of the cubs.
January 17th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Marcia, it sounds like Sarabi (queen) is a very fitting name for a regal precocious girl! Are any of the cubs from the first litter attempting to taste meat? I wonder why Sarabi is so much more interested than the others? Is she physically larger and therefore needs more nourishment? Did Mina pay much attention to this difference in the cubs?
January 17th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Best news of the week!!!! I’m so happy for you guys to have 7 lion cubs all around the same age!! So the 2 females = 7 cubs will all be on exhibit together? I remember(I think) that the last 2 litters never got to be on exhibit together(because of problems).
Are the 2 older male cubs still at the zoo or did the leave? Keep us updated on when they go on exhibit and please post pictures?
Is the 3rd lioness pregnant yet.Can you give an update on her and her mate just explaining there life story and habits ect?
January 17th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I hope some photos will be shown online of these most adorable cubs since that will be the only way for some of their fans to see them! Like me, for example!
Thank you for telling us their names and meanings. What happens when the shaved areas grow back?
Good luck when the entire family go on exhibit. Things will undoubtedly go very smoothly b/c the lions have been treated so well.
January 18th, 2008 at 10:06 am
What beautiful names they roll of the tongue so smooth and easy. I watched a video on CNN this morning of two lion cubs from Virginia one girl and one boy making their debut and boy and all I can say is OMG, you have seven. There is going to be some tired keepers and tired moms trying to keep up with them. All that energy. Keep up your strength guys it going to be a while. Best of luck, gotta love them.
January 18th, 2008 at 10:09 am
My camera and I are anxiously awaiting their debut! I’m sure I’ll have to set my camera on the “sport/action” mode as these cubs will be enjoying their exhibit with great gusto. Thanks for sharing their names with us. Their names alone help to show how their personalities must be emerging. Fun!
January 18th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Can you let me know what day they will be let out the first time?
I would like to come and photograph the whole group of 7?
January 18th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Can’t wait to see them. Izu will be so proud.
January 18th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Izu and Gao Gao are going to have to compete for “Big Daddy of the Year” - they both produce the most amazing babies. You guys rock!
January 21st, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Hi! I’m glad that you all have finally given these 7 cubs their names! The names sound great, and I can’t wait to see a LOT of pics of them as soon as you get them up online. Hope you can get at least one pic of all 7 cubs together! That will be the cutest pic of all of them! Give Mina and Oshana some big hugs for doing a great job raising and taking care of their cubs. They deserve some love hugs! I know that having this mini pride all together now has been a very happy thing for you to see. Since you all work at WAP, is there anyway that you can get with the elephant keepers to give us a new update on the baby elephant that was born in Nov., 2007? We still are not seeing a picture of her on the elephant page, and there is still NO name for this baby girl elephant. Will you please find out what is going on there, and have someone write us an update about her and her mom, Lungile. I’m still very concerned about this baby elephant and her mom, and I’ve been praying for the both of them to get better. Hope you can relay this message to them for me! Also, the elephant cam is still down!
Thanks,
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
PS: Have fun with those lion cubs! Oh yeah, maybe you can get a video of them up on your video gallery page real soon. Would love to see those cubs in action chasing each other all over the place!
Moderator’s note: Thank you for your interest in this youngster. The baby’s condition continues to be guarded and she is receiving round the clock care. We will share your thoughts and support with the animal care staff who are working so hard to care for her. We have not resolved our connection issue with Elephant Cam. If it doesn’t work, try again in 15 minutes or so.
January 21st, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Cheryl, I agree with you! Izu and Gao Gao are definitely in the running for daddy of the year! One of them will eventually win that award! The “Oscar” goes to———-take your pick, you all!!! They both deserve it!!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
January 25th, 2008 at 11:02 am
I saw them!!!! Not in person - but on our local news station. Evidently they are on exhibit with their moms. Talk about Cute times seven! Absolutely unbelievably cute - definitely worth an early morning trek to the WAP - and quick!
January 27th, 2008 at 9:32 am
I saw them - in person. Heeding the advice on the WAP’s website, I got there when the park opened and went straight to Lion Camp. Ever seen how much fun it is to watch a litter of kittens play and interact with their mother? Multiply that times two. Both litters and both mothers were out and VERY active for the first hour on Saturday. They just started letting out the two new litters of lion cubs with their mothers. Only for an hour (9am - 10am) on Saturday. They’ll gradually legthen the times each day. Best viewing was at the glass in the corner near the den entrances. Like an idiot, I arrived with no camera, but I took about 20 pix with my camera phone. One of a cub lying against the wall inches from the glass came out perfect. They’re still young and curious enough to interact with humans. One small child next to me had his nose pressed to the glass, and a cub came right up and they went nose-to-nose. A Kodak moment, and me without a real camera. A great day!!
January 28th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Ah… nose to nose with the cub - what a treat! I can hardly wait to get out there.