3 lion cubs meet the public at Busch Gardens

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.

Guests can now see the cubs in the Edge of Africa area of the park at various times throughout the day. 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.

WSBTV