AssetID: 54838886
Headline: RAW VIDEO (NO MUSIC): Trio Of Lion Cubs Born At UK Safari Park
Caption: The cat's out the bag at West Midlands Safari Park, as keepers proudly announced the arrival of three lion cubs. Born on 13 April 2025 to 12-year-old mum Amber, the cubs have just passed the eight-week mark and have undergone their first health checks. These checks confirmed the sex of each cub - two males and one female. Carried out by the Park’s expert veterinary team alongside the keepers, the health assessments led to the cubs being named Nero, Nox, and Nancy. Their arrival marks another chapter in a recent baby boom at the Park, following the births of Sumatran tiger cubs, an Indian rhino calf, two blesbok calves, and a barasingha fawn. Senior Carnivore Keeper, Shauna Jenkins, said, “Amber has been a fantastic mother after giving birth to her three cubs. We keepers try to be as hands-off as we can with animal births, so we initially monitored the cubs via CCTV to minimise the disturbance. It has been exciting to watch them reach crucial milestones in their development under Amber's devoted care. “As they've grown bigger and more active, the cubs have become increasingly playful, often seen using Amber as their climbing frame or her tail like a toy - particularly when she's lying down to eat! Their unique personalities are beginning to emerge and we're all eager to watch them to continue to grow and develop.” She added, “The female, Nancy, is already showing a strong independent streak, with her brothers often following her lead as they explore their environment and investigate new sights and smells. Amber is very relaxed with her cubs exploring, with keepers in the vicinity carrying out their routine husbandry tasks - a true reflection of the trust and bond she shares with the team.” The next stage for the cubs will be gaining access to an outdoor area adjacent to the lion house. Though not viewable by the public, the Park will share updates, photos, and videos on social media to keep fans in the loop. Just like domestic kittens, the lion cubs will require a second round of vaccinations and a follow-up health check before they can explore the main habitat and meet guests on the Safari Drive later this summer. The birth of these cubs is particularly important, as lions are currently listed as ‘vulnerable’ in the wild by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Research & Conservation Officer, Katie McDonald, said, “We are all so familiar with lions - they are the iconic animals of children's stories and have been seen in zoos for centuries. It is hard to imagine that they could become extinct. Wild lions are hard to count but latest estimates (2023) indicate that there are between 22,000 and 25,000 adult and subadult lions left in Africa. “It is believed lions exist in only about 6% of their historic range, demonstrating severe declines. This is due to lions losing habitat and prey animals to humans. As the human population in lion range areas increases, human-lion conflict is becoming more and more of a problem for both people and the cats. There are specific regional conservation strategies in place to save lions on the ground in Africa. Having lions at the Safari Park allows us to keep their story very much alive.” As part of a Park-wide naming tradition for 2025, all newborn animals this year will receive names beginning with the letter ‘N’ - hence Nero, Nox, and Nancy. The rest of the lion pride can be spotted on the Safari Drive, including the cubs’ father, Tsavo, and their sister Hernatty. Meanwhile, their older brothers Hodge, Havoc, and Harabi can be seen with half-brother Hercules over at Lion Ridge, located in the Safari Walk area of the Park.
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