Born on November 19 last year to mother Maya, the four male cubs weighed less than two kilograms each at birth! Now, at around 70 kilograms each, Bakari, Karoo, Sheru and Virunga are growing up fast.
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They can often be seen romping around together on exhibit and are especially active in the mornings. The cubs routinely play as siblings, stalking and chasing each other (and mother Maya!) through the trees. They are regularly pushing the friendship with Maya, their father Lazarus, and each other - pouncing on tails, hiding, and jumping on one another, paws outstretched!
They are eating three kilograms of meat every day, with supplements added to ensure they are in tip-top condition and as healthy as they can be. Keepers are very pleased with their progress - there’s no doubt the cubs are growing into impressive young males.
The cubs will soon be starting a conditioning program, ahead of their move over the much-anticipated African Lion Pride Lands exhibit. As part of this process, Keepers will introduce them to a specially-made transport crate, encouraging them to explore it. That way, they’ll feel comfortable inside the crate when they are moved in early 2018.
The four cubs are sure to enjoy the vast, open space in the 38,000 square metre enclosure at African Lion Pride Lands. Visitors can see the Lion pride in their new surrounds from March, when the African Lion Pride Lands exhibit will be open to the public! Until then, the best time to see the Lion cubs on exhibit is from 9.30am. Don’t forget, the Zoo offers admission for just $1 if you visit on your birthday! For more information, check out zoofari.com.au.
Lions
Lions are one of the most renowned big cats native to Sub-Saharan Africa. They are golden in colour and males have a distinctively impressive mane. At Taronga Western Plains Zoo they have a male named Jambo/Bruiser (DOB: 19/08/1999), and two females Kuchani (DOB: 6/5/2001) and Asali (DOB:28/08/2003). "Asali" is Swahili for "honey".
Their fourth Lion; Johari (DOB:28/08/2003) was moved to Werribee Open Range Zoo in Victoria. It is hoped that he will soon be pared with a female and start his own pride.
Bruiser is the dominant male and father of Asali. He was hand raised by keepers at Taronga Zoo along with his two sisters – one of whom lives at Taronga Western Plains Zoo and the other at Perth Zoo. Bruiser is considered to be a ‘big sweetheart’ by his keepers!
Our lions will only fight over three things, they food, toys and their exhibit bed board. A couple of years ago when Johari and Asali became fully grown, keepers had to extend the bed board as Johari kept pushing Bruiser off, making him very angry! Kuchani is lighter in colour than her daughter Asali, who is considered the princess of the pride.
Food and Enrichment: At Taronga Western Plains Zoo our lions are fed a wide variety of meats including rabbit, beef, kangaroo, and chicken. They love eggs, as they were brought up with them. It is a funny sight to see the egg yolk dripping down the side of their mouth when he has an egg inside. On hot days they are given ‘bloodcicles’ or milk icicles
