Update! Honolulu Zoo's Lion Cubs Use Play to Grow Strong

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Update! Honolulu Zoo’s Lion Cubs Use Play to Grow Strong

February 13, 2013

The furry-bellied Lion cub trio at Honolulu Zoo that you may have read about here on ZooBorns are getting bigger! Born on December 15, at six weeks old their weigh-in had them at a healthy 14 pounds (6.35 kg) each; since then they have continued to grow at a good pace.

The cubs are not yet ready to be in the large exhibit so they spend their time behind the scenes with their mother, Moxy. Zoo staff worked with the City’s Department of Information Technology to provide a live feed for public viewing of them on a monitor at the old gift store display window. Zoo staff hopes that after they complete their inoculations (within the next 60 days), and get the approval of Zoo Veterinarian, Dr. Ben Okimoto, they can be introduced to their habitat.

Photo Credit: Honolulu Zoo

The cubs are becoming stronger, thanks in part to play, which develops motor skills, balance and hunting behavior. With three cubs, it's three times the fun, as captured on the Zoo's closed circuit cameras.

3 responses to “Update! Honolulu Zoo’s Lion Cubs Use Play to Grow Strong”

Classic Steve

February 14, 2013

I want to hold one.

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Nowhere Girl

February 18, 2013

They are so cute… It’s curious to know they already weighed 6 kilograms at 6 weeks old. In Poland we have an Asian lioness called Tycia (Tiny) – she is now about 7 years old and still quite a problem, the zoo staff can’t get her to bond with a male (but what the heck, I wouldn’t either – maybe she’s asexual and an Independent Woman too. Not good for the species, but a fair choice for the individual*). Anyway, as for her name, an early article about her began: “Even though she eats up to twelve times a day, at 43 days old she weighs only 3 kilograms and 100 grams. It’s not much for a lion, so the name Tiny suits her very well”. Sooo sweet… So the size of the Honolulu cubs shows even better how tiny she was at this age.
*Asexual animals do exist – it seems that alternative sexual orientations (homosexuality, asexuality etc.) are nature’s ways of controlling population size – very good for our own species, by the way… In Plock zoo there is a female alligator, Martha, one of the oldest animals in European zoos – over 80 years old. She was brought to Poland thanks to the American Polish community and she came with a male with whom she clearly didn’t want to mate. Later attempts failed as well. It seems Martha found her acting career much more interesting – she starred as a crocodile in a 60s Polish comedy. 🙂 Anyway, all I can do is at least teach respect for such choices at least through comments.

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cotten candy

March 1, 2016

i wish i could have one 2 love on

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