KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Zoo Knoxville has two new reasons to be proud of its growing African lion pride.
On Thursday, Zoo Knoxville announced that two male lion cubs named Sammie and Sika (pronounced see-kah) were born on July 14 to parents Zahra and Maji. The pair had their first cub, Bisky, on February 17. Altogether, Zoo Knoxville now has five African lions.
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Like their brother, Sammie and Sika had a rough start. Zahra had difficulty producing enough milk for her cubs, so the animal care team decided to bring them into human care to make sure they got the food they needed. They are now making excellent progress, the zoo said on Thursday. Zahra also had previously had trouble producing enough milk for Bisky.
“We’re so proud of Zahra and grateful that she has given birth to three healthy cubs this year,” said Terry Canon, curator of carnivores at Zoo Knoxville. “She’s had some challenges producing enough milk for her cubs, but our team was prepared to step in and give them the care they needed. They’re thriving, and it’s exciting to know these three boys are also contributing to the future of a healthy and genetically diverse African lion population.”
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies African lions as vulnerable due to habitat loss, declining prey populations and conflict with humans. By maintaining a diverse population in human care, conservationists hope to ensure the long-term survival of the species. Zoo Knoxville contributes to this by participating in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ African Lion Species Survival Plan…