Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium announces 3 new lion cubs

The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium announced the birth of three new African lion cubs on Thursday.

The cubs — one female and two male — were born at the zoo on July 16. This marks the first African lion births at the Pittsburgh Zoo since 1975, according to zoo officials.

The zoo said the mother has been attentive to the cubs and the mother and cubs are doing well. The cubs have not yet been named.

The cubs, along with their mother, are currently in the Animal Care Center during renovations on the new lion exhibit.

We are so proud to introduce three new African lion cubs! One female and two male cubs were born at the Zoo on July 16. All three cubs and their mother are doing well and are currently behind-the-scenes in the Animal Care Center. https://t.co/aadPQdTznY pic.twitter.com/7Pv80Rpkf8

— Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium (@PghZoo) August 20, 2020

The zoo had previously announced a new lion pride in June. The pride originally consisted of three African lions — a 3-year-old male and a pair of 3-year-old females. Zoo officials began renovating the exhibit for the new pride in anticipation of cubs.

The cubs are important to a species with dwindling numbers, zoo officials said. Though there were once millions of African lions, their population is now approximately 10,000. In the last 21 years, their population has declined over 43%.

“The birth of these new cubs will help to sustain the managed lion population in the U.S. and continue to help conserve this vulnerable species,” zoo officials said. “These cubs are extremely valuable as they represent a new bloodline, as the Zoo welcomed the adults from a wildlife facility from South Africa last year.”

The Pittsburgh Zoo is currently accepting donations for the lion exhibit renovations.

The Zoo was previously requiring timed tickets, but is now permitting general admissions as well. Masks are required throughout the facility, which is operating at half capacity and instituting its own covid-19 guidelines.