The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium today announced that three African lion cubs were born at the zoo last month.
One female cub and two male cubs were born on Thursday, July 16.
“The cubs started nursing right away and mom has been very attentive. All three lion cubs and their mother are all doing well and are currently spending time behind-the-scenes in the Animal Care Center while the new lion exhibit is being renovated,” the zoo said in a news release.
The zoo said this is the first time African lion births have occurred at there since 1975.
On June 8, the zoo had announced the arrival of a new lion pride - a 3-year-old male and two, 3-year-old females.
“The birth of these new cubs will help to sustain the managed lion population in the U.S. and continue to help conserve this vulnerable species. These cubs are extremely valuable as they represent a new bloodline, as the Zoo welcomed the adults from a wildlife facility from South Africa last year.
Once numbering in the millions, there are now only 10,000 African lions remaining. The population has declined over 43% in the last 21 years,” zoo officials said.
While the zoo was closed during the coronavirus pandemic, work was started to renovate the lion exhibit.
In January of 2020, the zoo had reported that its African lion, Ajani, who was 10 years old, was relocated to a Tennessee facility that “that caters to older lions. The facility has a flat terrain which will make it easier for Ajani to access indoor and outdoor areas.
In addition, this new facility will have other lions for Ajani to interact with. Since Ajani’s brother passed earlier this year, this new home will enable Ajani to socialize with other lions. In the wild, lions live in social groups called prides with 15 or more members.”
Ajani and Razi had been at the zoo since 2012 and were “inseparable,” the zoo said.
At that point, the zoo planned the renovation of the lion exhibit including changes that would make it suitable not just for adults but also for cubs.
The zoo has not said when the lions will be on exhibit.
Three African lion cubs were born at the Pittsburgh Zoo on July 16. They were the first lion cub births there since 1975. (Photo provided by the Pittsburgh Zoo)
The zoo requires all visitors older than 2 years to wear a face mask - indoors and outdoors - to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Timed ticketing is no longer required and general admission is available.
The log ride and the zip line are closed as are playground areas. There is no tram service. Mobile food ordering is available, along with plexiglass barriers and social distancing markers.
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