Three young lions born at London Zoo earlier this year have been named. London Zoo have announced their 13-week-old Asiatic lion cubs as Mali (male), Syanii (male) and Shanti (female).
The animals were born at the conservation zoo on 13 March to seven-year-old mum, Arya, and 14-year-old dad Bhanu. The trio of names was provided by schoolchildren, supported by London Zoo’s corporate partner Liontrust, after schools across the UK submitted their thoughts for the very best names to suit the cubs.
The final three were decided on by Times Radio listeners, providing much-anticipated names to the zoo’s young Asiatic lions. Lion keeper Martin O’Sullivan said: “The addition of these three lion cubs to Bhanu and Arya’s family is hugely exciting for all of us at the zoo and a great conservation achievement.”
He continued: “Asiatic lions are an endangered species in the wild, with population numbers thought to be around 600-700, so three new lion cubs are a critical step toward building a strong reserve population to protect the species.”
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