KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Story WVLT) – Zoo Knoxville has welcomed a male African lion cub, announcing his birth Thursday. His parents are first-time mother Zahra and father Maji, and he was born Feb. 17.
Zahra had two cubs in her litter, but only one survived. The zoo’s announcement included details about the challenges she faced, something not uncommon for first-time lion mothers.
“Although Zahra remained highly attentive, she became increasingly protective and would not leave the den, limiting the team’s ability to perform routine health checks,” the zoo’s announcement said. “At the same time, nursing became less consistent.”
“Through our camera monitoring, we could see they were nursing, but not thriving,” Terry Cannon, Curator of Carnivores, said. “When Zahra briefly shifted away, we were able to intervene. At that point, it was clear the cubs were not getting enough milk.”
Cannon said it’s not ideal when the zoo has to step in, but it helped keep the lion cub alive.
“Our goal is always to let lions raise lions,” Cannon said. “We monitor closely, but we want to see natural maternal behaviors and allow the process to unfold without unnecessary intervention.”
The remaining cub has since been put on a bottle diet, the zoo said. He’s not yet visible to guests, but the zoo expects to announce when he’ll be out and about soon.
“Every new cub like this represents hope for the future of lions,” said Zoo Knoxville President and CEO Bill Street. “Managed populations play a vital role in conservation, and ensuring the survival of this cub supports the long-term sustainability of the species.”
