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Our Growing Pride
Following a 115-day pregnancy, African lion Araali gave birth to four feisty cubs on Wednesday, August 13, after laboring for nearly 18 hours. Mom and babies are bonding well behind-the-scenes, where they will remain for at least six weeks pending vaccinations and neo-natal examinations. This allows Araali and her cubs the time they need to adjust to one another before introductions begin with the other females in our pride.
Araali was born at DZCA in 2020 and Usiku, the proud dad, arrived in 2016 from Lee Richardson Zoo in Garden City, Kansas. Due to their compatible genetics—and Usiku’s notably mild demeanor—the pair was recommended for breeding last year through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ African Lion Species Survival Plan.
Their successful introduction earlier this year has led to a wonderful milestone: a litter of lion cubs representing four generations born at DZCA. Their family tree begins with great-grandma Neliah (13), followed by grandma Kamara (9), mom Araali (5), and now Araali’s cubs—all born here within the past decade.
Assistant Curator of Carnivores, Katelyn Stache, shared what these new cubs mean to our dedicated Animal Care team:
“We are so excited for the birth of these lion cubs and to see Araali already becoming a great mother. Watching Araali grow up here at DZCA makes this event even more special. With successful (and sweet) introductions with Usiku, a male from our lion brother coalition, this matchup was recommended in 2024 to support the African lion population in human care. The team has been monitoring for signs of labor over the last two weeks and consistently checking in on Araali via camera throughout that time. Now that the cubs are here, we are enjoying listening to their noises and watching Araali as she navigates caring for all of them.”
Caring for Cubs in CO + Worldwide
Here at DZCA, it’s been our honor to care for countless lions over the years ranging from our current four-generational pride to brother coalition. While the lions who call DZCA are supporting vital conservation efforts for lions in human care, we’re also proud to support their wild counterparts.
Earlier this year we announced our most recent conservation partnership with the Kyambura Lion Monitoring Project (KLMP), part of the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust to help protect the lion population located in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP). KLMP takes a multi-faceted approach to protecting the QENP lion population, whose numbers have dropped to fewer than 50 individuals. DZCA supports KLMP through their work in the daily monitoring of the QENP lion population, conducting an annual census of lions, leopards, and hyenas in the park, and training local Ugandans in scientific monitoring techniques.
Coming Soon: Araali’s Cub Cam
Want more cub cuteness? A livestream opportunity will be provided in Pahali ya Simba (the indoor area of Predator Ridge), an additional screen placed in Pahali ya Mwana (our maternity yard), and shared online for lion fans around the world to enjoy.
Stay tuned for the livestream link and for other ways you can support our growing pride! In the meantime, be sure to follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn for the latest updates!
Baby Bulletin presented by our sponsor Intermountain Health.
