The Newest, Cutest Baby Animals from the World's Zoos & Aquariums

Daddy Day Care at San Diego Zoo Safari Park

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LionDadCubIzuEvelyn_WebPhoto Credit: Ken Bohn

African Lion Cub, ‘Evelyn’, recently spent a beautiful morning, at San Diego Zoo Safari Park, tackling her regal father, ‘Izu’. Evelyn is one of four cubs who, for the first time, are sharing the Lion Camp Habitat with their father. Prior to this, the almost four-month-old cubs only had visual access to the adult male while being cared for solely by their mother, ‘Oshana.’

During the October 2nd photo-op, all four of the cubs eagerly ran into the grassy habitat with their mother, who stayed a short distance away.  Izu tried to remain patient as the cubs, three females and one male, took turns pouncing, climbing and sniffing at him, even swiping playfully at his tail.

The four cubs were born on June 22nd and are named ‘Ernest’, ‘Evelyn’, ‘Marion’, and ‘Miss Ellen’, in honor of longtime San Diego Zoo Global supporters Ernest and Evelyn Rady and Marion Wilson, and in memory of Miss Ellen Browning Scripps, the San Diego Zoo's first benefactor.

Visitors to the Safari Park's Lion Camp may see Oshana, Izu and their cubs daily.

 

4 responses to “Daddy Day Care at San Diego Zoo Safari Park”

  1. Melanie Avatar
    Melanie

    I know that sometimes in the wild adult males will kill lion cubs – is this ever a risk in captivity?

    Reply
  2. Rhea Avatar
    Rhea

    Adult male lions often kill the cubs after they take over a pride. The cubs aren’t theirs, and if they kill them, the lionesses will come back into heat sooner and thus have more cubs by the new males. The older the cubs get before another bunch of males takes over, the more likely the cubs will survive. So cub-killing males leave more offspring to spread that behavior. It’s ugly but it’s how some genes increase in the population.
    Captive lions generally don’t have that take-over issue; if they’ve been with the females for a while, the “move in and kill cubs” behavior isn’t triggered.
    Some lions can be a real punching-bag of a dad. The National Zoo’s two females gave birth about the same time to seven cubs, and when the kids were a few months old, Luke got to meet them. He took one step toward those cubs and both mamas roared their heads off. Luke rolled over on his back with his paws in the air. There’s a video taken later of Luke lying peacefully in an indoor den until all seven kids come charging in and turn him into a big cat toy….

    Reply
  3. Melanie Avatar
    Melanie

    That makes sense – thanks for the information, and sharing that adorable anecdote 🙂

    Reply
  4. Alverant Avatar
    Alverant

    Sounds like Dad is either coughing up a hair ball or is trying to show the crowd that he’s still a tough guy.

    Reply

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