Newborn Lion Cubs Pride Of Zoo Miami

SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE (CBSMiami) – Zoo Miami is roaring with pride over the birth of three lion cubs, the zoo's first in its 33-year history.

The cubs were born September 24th to Kashifa a 3-year, 8-month old lioness in a special den off exhibit.

Since their birth, the cubs were observed in that den via a closed circuit camera which showed the newborns are being well cared for by the first time mother.

But Tuesday morning, zoo staff was able to shift the mother, which allowed the cubs to be temporarily separated from mom for their first neonatal examination.

GALLERY: NEWBORN LION CUBS PRIDE OF ZOO MIAMI

The examination allowed staff to determine the sex of the cubs as well as weights and overall conditions. In addition, they received microchips for identification.

The two males and single female appeared to be in excellent health weighing between 1.63kg and 1.75kg and will remain off exhibit with their mother for approximately 3 months until zoo staff feels confident that the cubs can be introduced to the rest of the pride and safely navigate the exhibit with the adults.

Kashifa is one of four lions that form the pride at Zoo Miami. She shares the exhibit with her sister, Asha, and two unrelated brothers, Jabari and Kwame.

Both females were born at the Bronx Zoo in New York in January of 2010 and the males were born at the Racine Zoo in Wisconsin in September of 2007. It is not known for sure which of the two brothers is the father of the cubs.

The lion cubs were born as part of a carefully planned breeding that was the result of a Species Survival Plan (SSP) recommendation. Species Survival Plans are part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) mission to cooperatively manage specific, and typically threatened or endangered species populations in accredited institutions.

Lions are considered vulnerable and have suffered significant population declines over the last several decades with only an estimated 32,000 individuals remaining in the wild, down from over 100,000 living 50 years ago.

They are the only truly social cats living in prides that can number over 20 individuals. Males can exceed 400 pounds and develop their classic mane between 4 and 7 years of age. In the wild, the average lifespan of lions is approximately 12-15 years but in captivity they can live over 20 years.