Nov

Secretary Clough weighs in on the Zoo’s growing lion pride

(Photo by Mehgan Murphy)

Smithsonian Secretary Wayne Clough watched as the National Zoo’s animal care staff weighed all seven of the Zoo’s African lion (Panthera leo) cubs Nov. 10. Zoo Director Dennis Kelly joined Clough for the weighing, which is a regular part of monitoring cub development. The cubs weigh between 16 and 23 pounds.

The Zoo welcomed the year’s first surviving litter of lion cubs Aug. 30 and 31, born to 6-year-old mother Shera and 5-year-old father Luke. Nababiep, Shera’s 6-year-old sister, gave birth to her first surviving litter of cubs Sept. 22, also sired by Luke. The cubs—four females and three males—are developing their own dynamic, feisty personalities according to caregivers.

The birth of these cubs is a significant milestone for both the Zoo and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan for African lions. It has been more than 20 years since the Zoo had the right combination of animals by age and gender to form a pride. The process requires extensive planning, knowledge of the species’ natural history and an understanding of the individual animals.

(Photo by Mehgan Murphy)

The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species lists the African lion as vulnerable. As the human population grows and communities expand, resources such as food and water have dwindled. Hunting and distemper—a disease spread by domestic dogs—also threaten lion populations.

Visitors to the Zoo’s website can watch the lion cub cams. To follow the Zoo’s progress in building a pride and caring for the cubs, read the updates from the Zoo’s lion keepers and check for news on the Zoo’s Twitter feed, Facebook page and Flickr page.

This video records an earlier exam on November 1.