Four African lion cubs at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park played with their father for the first time Thursday.
The cubs were born June 22 to mother, Oshana, and father, Izu. They are named Ernest, Evelyn, Marion and Miss Ellen, in honor of benefactors Ernest and Evelyn Rady and Marion Wilson, and in memory of Ellen Browning Scripps, who officials call the San Diego Zoo's first major financial supporter.
The cubs have had access to their father through a protective barrier before this morning's meeting. Keepers said the cubs pounced and climbed on Izu and swiped at his tail.
The Safari Park's lion pride consists of Oshana, Izu and the four new cubs; adult female Mina; and two of Oshana's older offspring, Ken and Dixie. Park officials said that keeping the lion pride together was expected to help the cubs thrive.
"Lions are the only social cat. They live in a pride," said Tony Franceschiello, a senior animal keeper. "It is always our ultimate goal that we get them out here together as a group, as a pride. It pretty much replicates what would happen in the wild. She (Oshana) would go off and have her cubs on her own, and when they're old enough she brings them back to the pride and introduces them, and everyone is together."
The cubs are active, vocal, curious and feisty, each with distinctive personalities, according to their keepers.
Visitors to the Lion Camp exhibit can see Oshana, Izu and their cubs daily from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
