Seattle's Woodland
Park Zoo Lion cub quadruplets just turned two months old and that meant it was time for a vet check. Each cub was carried to the exam table by keepers, held just like their mother
would, as that comforting position relaxes them.

Now weighing
in at 21 to 23 pounds (9.5 to 10.4 kg) each, the wriggly babies are getting harder to
handle, so each were anesthetized for a part of this latest checkup. One cub gave a healthy hiss to the immobilizer
mask!

Each of the
cubs has most of their baby teeth, which means they are starting to
sample solid foods like ground turkey and raw beef. Vets noticed that their little tummies felt less full than they did at their last exam, which is likely
because now that they eat some solid foods, they aren’t filling themselves up
on mom’s milk as much as they used to.

Each were measured from head to tail to track their growth. All are on target, a
positive sign that the zoo can start planning for their debut
when outdoor temperatures reach a minimum of 50
degrees. Until then, they’ll continue to live in an off-view maternity den
where they can bond and develop in a more controlled environment.

Photo Credit: Photo 2,3,4,5,6: Kirsten Pisto/Woodland Park Zoo, Photo 1, 7,8: Ryan Hawk

After the
exam, the cubs were soothed by keepers as each woke up. They were then returned
to their mom Adia.

See a video of these babies in action, find more pictures of the cubs and read about the species and conservation efforts to save them after the fold.

The Lions at Woodland Park Zoo belong to the
South African subspecies, Panthera leo krugeri. Known as the Transvaal lion, it ranges in
Southern Sahara to South Africa, excluding the Congo rain forest belt, in
grassy plains, savanna and open woodlands. These lions range in weight from 260
to 400 pounds. Although not presently endangered, the future of African lions
is uncertain, particularly as the growth in human population continues to
impact lion populations.

Through its Wildlife Survival Fund, Woodland
Park Zoo supports the Ruaha Carnivore Project through the Lion Species Survival
Plan Conservation Campaign. The project works in Tanzania to mitigate human
conflict with lions and other large carnivores that share the Ruaha landscape,
while collecting baseline data on lion populations to help shape lion and large
carnivore conservation. 

Watch below as the cubs play a little football.