Three lion cubs home at Busch Gardens Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. — Three lion cubs are the most recent addition to the more than 12,000 animals at Busch Gardens® Tampa.  The two females and one male arrived at Busch Gardens from South Africa May 18.

The two females, who are sisters, were born March 20.  The male, who is not related to the females, was born Feb. 20.  All three cubs have genetic lines from the Kalahari and Kruger regions of South Africa, where lions are recognized for their large size and impressive manes on the males.

» IMAGE GALLERY: Lion cubs at Busch Gardens Tampa

Guests will soon be able to see the cubs in the Edge of Africa area of the park.  Once they are large enough, the Busch Gardens animal care team will start introducing the cubs to the lion and hyena habitat of the Edge of Africa attraction. More information and updates about the progress of the new cubs will be posted on  BuschGardensTampaBlog.com.

The addition of the cubs comes as the result of a relationship between Busch Gardens and a private zoological facility in South Africa and enhances the sustainability of lions living in managed care in North America, as well as aids in the park's breeding program.

Lion populations are in sharp decline across Africa. The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund supports several projects in Africa, which work to protect and preserve the species.

Name Busch Gardens Tampa’s Lion Cub Sisters

Busch Gardens Tampa is giving everyone a chance to help name the lion cub sisters.  By simply logging on to the Busch Gardens Tampa Facebook page, fans can cast their vote for their favorite pair of names.  The naming poll will take place now through Tuesday, June 18.

Busch Gardens is owned and operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment™, a leading theme park and entertainment company that delivers personal, interactive and educational experiences that blend imagination with nature. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is best known for its 11 U.S. theme parks, attractions that hosted more than 24 million guests in 2012. Each of these theme parks offers a distinct entertainment experience that connects guests to the world and to one another.

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment™ also is one of the world's foremost zoological organizations and a worldwide leader in animal welfare, training, husbandry and veterinary care. The company collectively cares for one of the largest animal collections on the North American continent and has helped lead advances in the care of species in zoological facilities and in the conservation of wild populations.

WSBTV