Lion Cubs Turn One
Posted at 4:26 pm November 10, 2008 by Amy Whidden Winter
Ingozi dashes over to see what Kaya has.
Oshana’s boy Zawadi is the biggest of all the cubs. Weighing in at 198 pounds (90 kilograms), he is quite the presence. He has a laid-back demeanor with the keepers and with the other cubs most of the time, but he can be quite the lion when he wants something. When he sets his sights on a toy or food item, he doesn’t hesitate to muscle his way in; usually with one or two hearty growls he manages to take whatever object he desires. He’s a handsome guy with a blond mane sprouting from his wide head and just the hint of a dark mane on his throat and chest. His eyes are light brown with a gold tint that blends with his golden coat color. He looks so much like his older half brother Kamau, at times. When looking at Zawadi it is almost like looking back in time when Kamau was his age.
Laini and Ingozi inspect a colorfully wrapped treat.
My favorite Ekundu story happened a while ago. It was the first time Nyack, our hand-raised cub (see blog, New Cub Joins Lion Camp Pride) was allowed to have a rabbit with all the other cubs. Nyack walked into the large chute area with his rabbit in his mouth. All the other cubs were busy munching their rabbits and Nyack walked by each one cautiously. He came up to his best friend Ingozi; Nyack appeared to be proudly showing him his rabbit. Ingozi snarled and batted the rabbit out of Nyack’s mouth, put his paw over his new acquisition, and growled harshly at Nyack. Nyack seemed confused and frightened; he retreated to the end of the chute, huddled in the corner, and bellowed a low long cry over and over. Ekundu came out from an adjoining room and looked down the chute at Ingozi holding two rabbits and Nyack crying in the corner. Ekundu then strolled over to Ingozi and, quick as can be, snatched a rabbit away from Ingozi, marched it down the chute, dropped it right in front of Nyack, and then turned and walked away. If I hadn’t seen this with my own eyes I don’t think I would have believed it!
Ingozi pounces on a cardboard critter.
Oshana’s other daughter, Laini, is one of the biggest females, weighing in at 160 pounds (73 kilograms). She’s smart and very communicative. Laini will greet her keepers with a hearty snarl and hiss, only to offer intense focus when asked to cooperate with learning new behaviors. She’s a quick learner and will watch her trainer intently, waiting for her next cue. Although she is almost 10 pounds heavier than her sister, Tamu, they look so much alike we sometimes have to look them in the face to tell "who is who." Laini is stubborn when asked to come down off one of the high benches and shift to another room, but cooperates quickly when asked at a training session.
At 168 pounds (77 kilograms), Mina’s daughter Sarabi is the heaviest of all the female cubs. Lighter, almost gray in color, her square jowls and slender muzzle make her look older than her one year. As a young cub she seemed like a “tough girl,” warning off the boys and greeting her keepers with a hiss and a snarl. As she’s gotten older, she doesn’t appear to be quite as brave. When new enrichment is placed in one of the rooms, she seems leery and usually waits for another cub to investigate before she moves in to check it out. Sarabi is more trusting and curious with her keepers and will approach, although cautiously, when a keeper presents an unusual item, usually to assist in training.
Mina’s other daughter Kaya weighs 160 pounds (73 kilograms). She’s light in color like her sister and shares the same medium brown eyes. Kaya seems like she has a busy mind, an independent thinker like her Aunt Oshana, often appearing to be more concerned with what another cub is doing instead of what she is doing. Kaya is bold with new objects and is often one of the first ones to explore new enrichment items. She is playful and will hoard bones, or especially good enrichment items, from the other cubs. When approached by another cub intent on taking a toy or bone away, Kaya can turn into a pure lioness, growling, snarling, and holding on with muscles and claws.
Ingozi is Mina’s only boy, weighing 165 pounds (75 kilograms); he is the second smallest of all the male cubs. He has a sweet, almost comical disposition. Ingozi is shorter in stature and has dark brown, wide-set eyes, giving him a gentle appearance. His right upper lip is often caught on his teeth, allowing the tip of his tongue to stick out between his lips. He is cooperative with his training but quite independent. Ingozi was the first cub introduced to Nyack (our hand-raised cub) and still will call out to him if Nyack is shifted into another room out of Ingozi’s sight. The two cubs often sleep next to each other.
Nyack is 163 pounds (74. kilograms); he is one month younger than the other cubs and yet weighs only 2 pounds (0.91 kilograms) less than his cousin, Ingozi. Nyack is one of the pride of cubs. He is quite independent and fits in well with all the cubs. His mane has been coming in dark and shaggy, yet he still has spots on his legs and his face. His head is long and narrower with almost a “Roman-type” profile. He has become very possessive of his food and will fight anyone who tries to take a taste. Nyack and Ingozi are almost constant companions, with Sarabi often found resting with them. Nyack seems quite taken with her and will walk in front of her, waving his favorite toy (an old phonebook) in an attempt to get her to follow him and play.
These cubs grow and change daily. What a fun experience it has been to observe this process. I can hardly wait to see what happen next!
Amy Whidden Winter is a keeper at the Wild Animal Park.
Moderator's note: We celebrated the first birthdays of all eight cubs on Tuesday, November 11. There was a frozen cake and other frozen treats for the cubs, as well as cardboard critters for them to play with, made by the Park's Conservation Corps students. The next "party" for the cubs will be on Sunday, November 16. It is for the Conservation Corps; as they were unable to attend the festivities on Tuesday, we are having them come and place the rest of their enrichment animals on exhibit for the cubs. The keepers are going to add a few bloodsicles, too! It should all be happening around 9:30 a.m.
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November 11th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Is there going to be some video of their birthday party for those of us who cannot make it there ?
Moderator's note: YES!
November 11th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Oh what a delightful blog!
I hope we can see some new pics of the cubs!
November 11th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
thanks for the update…like I said I love reading SDZ blogs because I wish I could be there..I can't seem to figure out the time for you to write I bet your as busy there..
November 11th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
does MArcia redding still work with the lions? is she even at the park?
Moderator's note: Marcia still works at the Park, but is now one of two principle okapi keepers, so she doesn't work at Lion Camp as regularly as before.
November 11th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
I was there today,and I can tell you that it was a truly oustanding, exciting event to witness! Several keepers were there to talk to us and share stories, even before the cubs came out. All the cubs had such a great time, they loved their "birthday cakes" and b-day presents. When I have been there on other occasions, they are often taking naps by 10 or 10:30. When I left about 2 pm today, they were just beginning to settle in for naps. They had such a fun, exciting day! And it was certainly a lot of fun for all the visitors. Everybody was so excited to see them. My friend and I had planned the trip for today about a week ago. Then when I read here last night that the birthday party was today, I was so excited that we had such good luck. I understand there will be another birthday party Saturday so the kids who made the cardboard critters will be able to witness the cubs' exploration and fun with them. I'm less than 2 hours away, and I wouldn't be surprised if I'm there Saturday to witness and participate in all this fun again.
Thank you to all the lion keepers at the Park for all that you do to enrich the lives of these wondrous, magnificient animals!!
November 12th, 2008 at 3:33 am
Thanks for the update, Amy. I was there in July and taken round to see them behind the scenes. I fell in love with Nyack. Hope their birthday party went well and I shall look forward to the video.
November 12th, 2008 at 10:33 am
The next "party" for the cubs will be on Sunday, November 16, (not Saturday). It is for the Conservation Corps students; they made the cardboard animals we used as enrichment for the first party and were unable to attend the festivities on Tuesday, so we are having them come and place the rest of their enrichment animals on exhibit for the cubs. We (the keepers) are going to add a few bloodsicles too! It should all be happening around 9:30 a.m.
November 12th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Amy,
Thanks so much for clarifying the date of the next birthday party for the cubs.
November 12th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Aw, man. I have a meeting at work up in LA County on Sunday at the same exact time. The joys of working retail. When is the next *orangutan* birthday party? Now, they know how to partay. Happy belated b-days, big cats.
November 15th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Hi Amy - What a wonderful and informative blog. I especially appreciated your description of each lion, including his or her personality and weight. We always enjoy visiting the rambunctious lions at the Lion Camp. I enjoyed your Ekundu story concerning Nyack and Ingozi – it was very sweet.
We were not able to visit the lions on their birthday last week. However, we plan on attending tomorrow’s festivities, Sunday, Nov. 16 @ 9:30 AM.
While visiting the lions this past August, they were not as frisky as usual due to the hot summer sun – instead, they enjoyed lounging in the shade.
Thank you Amy for your great care of all these majestic animals.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
I was lucky enough to see the second birthday celebration for the cubs on 11/16/08 and enjoyed myself so much it was hard to leave. I was wondering if it was possible to post current photos of each cub on your website. Nyack was easy to spot but who I thought was Ingozi may not have been. I would love to be able to tell them apart or at least get an idea of what each cub looks like now. I read your recent entry that gave a slight description of each cub but a photo would help me better tell them apart. Thank you from a truly happy lion lover.
November 20th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Hi Amy,
We attended the lion cubs birthday party this past Sunday and it was a huge success! When we arrived, a large group of Conservation Corp students was setting up the lion’s exhibit. They did a great job positioning the painted “cardboard critters”, and carefully placing the frozen treats throughout the camp. Also, a few pumpkins were placed on logs and in the tall grass. Once the students were safely out of the exhibit, the lions made their grand entrance.
The eight spectacular lion cubs slowly entered the grounds and immediately began to cautiously investigate the area and search for the hidden treats. I was hoping they would find the frozen treats before they melted.
The lions made short work of the cardboard critters. The cardboard had been painted with bone marrow; so, they first licked off the bone marrow then toppled the critters and tore them apart. At one point, we saw a female lion pick up one of the pumpkins. She carried it over to two lions that were lying in the grass near a tree log and placed it next to them as if to say “hey guys I brought you a special treat”. It was so very cute. Fortunately, my husband took many photos of this wonderful party so that we can remember each exciting moment.
I saw that Nyack has a strip of dark hair that stands up on his head - resembling a mini-mohawk.
He is so very sweet and very easy to identify. By the way Amy, your description of Nyack having a “Roman” profile is perfect – we noticed it immediately – he’s truly very unique. Also, I believe I was able to identify Zawadi, a large majestic looking male lion. He is very handsome indeed.
After the lions totally ripped the cardboard critters to pieces, enjoyed searching and locating all the hidden treats, most settled down for a nap while a few investigated the “Rover” for more treats.
The students filled the viewing area and cheered the lions on. They were shouting,” look under the log” – “you missed one, go back”. They really livened things up and made the event even more enjoyable.
Thank you Amy and the Lion Camp staff for all your hard work and dedication to these gorgeous animals. Last, but not least, thanks to the Park’s Conservation students for their participation on this happy occasion.
It was a wonderful day!
December 9th, 2008 at 5:37 am
Hi Amy,
I was born in San Diego but grew up in Vista. I was just reading through the blogs here. They're very interesting. I love big cats very much. I live in Wisconsin. I'd love to come out to visit the San Diego Wild Animal Park, the zoo and Sea World sometime in the future. I miss those sights very much. I love animals very much and I collect them too. Well, Take care!
Joel Cawthon
Port Washington WI
December 12th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
i love izu, mina,oshana, zawadi, kamau, ekundu, nyack, ngozi, tamu, laini, sarabi, kaya,