For the first time in 10 years, two Asian lion cubs have been born at the ZSL London Zoo. Only ten weeks old, the brother and sister are the first cubs to be born to parents Abi and Lucifer. The furry youngsters have spent the last couple of weeks bounding around their paddock, familiarizing themselves with the outdoor enclosure. 

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More pics and info below the fold…

Lucifer’s
two little devils are already developing their own personalities with
the mischievous male cub proving more adventurous than his daintier
sister.

Keepers have even witnessed them playing tug of war over food – like any other brother and sister!

There
are less than 300 Asian lions in the wild and they are classified as
critically endangered by the IUCN International Union for Conservation
of Nature. The cubs are a welcome addition to ZSL London Zoo, which is
part of the European Breeding Programme for lions.

Lioness Abi was the last cub to be born at the Zoo in 1999 and the new mother has taken quite a shine to her playful pair.

Madeleine
Gordon, a keeper at the Zoo said: "We’re thrilled about the arrival of
the cubs. It’s lovely to see that Abi is making such a good mother.
They are amazing to watch and are becoming quite the family unit."