Pride and joy for Whipsnade Zoo as second north African lioness gives birth

The four newborn northern African lion cubs. Whipsnade Zoo. Photo by The four newborn northern African lion cubs. Whipsnade Zoo

Whipsnade Zoo has welcomed a second litter of rare northern African lion cubs, bringing the total number of cubs at the conservation zoo to seven.

The four cubs, born as part of the conservation breeding programme for their threatened sub-species, were born to mum Waka and dad Malik in the early hours of Thursday 23rd January, just two months after lioness Winta had her litter of three.

The quartet were born between the hours of 5:13am and 6:40am, with keepers watching the birth remotely via a hidden ‘cubcam’ CCTV. They were delighted to see Waka following in Winta’s footsteps as a doting mum, carefully cleaning and nuzzling her four newborns, who quickly got the hang of feeding.

Whipsnade Zoo’s Section Manager Sarah McGregor said: “We’re overjoyed to have second litter here at Whipsnade Zoo, not only because these cubs are precious additions to the breeding programme, but because our pride has now grown to ten lions.”

“Lions are highly sociable animals, and enjoy living in large groups. The youngsters will grow up side-by-side with their half-siblings, and I’m sure they’ll love having an abundance of playmates. Waka and Winta, who are both proving to be natural mums so far, will also share parental duties as lions in the wild would too.”

The sexes of the newest quartet of cubs will be confirmed at their first health check when they’re around 10 weeks old, and plans for naming the cubs will be confirmed by the conservation zoo in the coming weeks.

“While Waka and her cubs may be keeping warm and cosy indoors for a little bit longer, visitors will be able to catch a glimpse of their trio of half-siblings racing around the paddock this easter!” said Sarah.

As a result of large-scale habitat conversion for logging, livestock farming and housing, the loss of prey through unsustainable hunting, and human/wildlife conflict, 75% of wild African lion populations are declining in the wild.

ZSL, the international conservation charity behind Whipsnade Zoo, works in the W-Arli-Pendjari conservation complex, spanning the borders of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Benin, which holds 90 per cent of the lions remaining in West Africa, to support a wide number of species including lions through research, monitoring, and supporting national capacity for wildlife conservation.