POWELL (AP) – The Columbus zoo says an African lion has birthed four cubs, and the baby boom will continue because another lioness is pregnant.
The zoo says the healthy cubs that arrived Sunday are the first born at the zoo in about six years.
Their mother, named Asali, is the sister of the currently pregnant lioness, Kazi, who is due to have her first litter later this month. The new mothers are expected to stay in denning shelters, and the zoo’s lion yard is closed to the public for now.
Zoo president and CEO Tom Stalf says the zoo is proud to help with conservation efforts for the lions, whose populations in the wild have shown steady decline.