Paws for celebration - the 'lockdown litter' turn three!

There were celebrations in the Kingdom of Carnivores this past week, as four of the African lion pride turned three years old! The quadruplets - Hasani, Zulu, Iniko and Amara – were treated to a specially-themed enrichment activity as part of the festivities for their special day.

Back then…

Known as the “lockdown litter”, the trio of boys and one female (Amara) were born at the end of April 2020, just weeks after the Park closed as part of the UK-wide Covid-19 restrictions. The cubs spent their first few weeks in a specially-built lion house with doting mum Dakota, and joined the rest of the pride in the main 32-acre lion reserve when they reached 16 weeks old.

Dad Joco moved on to another collection in the summer of 2021 as part of an accredited breeding programme, but the boisterous youngsters were taken under the wing of older lionesses Abi, Tyra, Zuri and Tallulah, as well as juvenile males Kahari and Kojo.

…and now - a birthday bash fit for a King!

Now - as the UK prepares for a nationwide Bank Holiday celebration for the Coronation of King Charles III – these Kings (and Queen) of the Jungle have had a bash all of their own, big cat birthday style!

Keepers Chelsea, Alisha and Lauren collected branches and twigs from around the Kingdom of Carnivores reserves, and arranged them in the shape of a three to mark their special day.

As part of the lion’s programme of enrichment, the branches were heavily scented with three different kinds of perfume and a potent mix of spices; lions have a great sense of smell, and exploring new scents helps bring out some of the their natural feline behaviours.

It didn’t take long until the pride discovered the new feature, and showed an immediate interest - sniffing and licking the pile, and rubbing themselves up against the scents, before eventually rolling around and settling down for a relax amongst their birthday branches!

One, two, three... see the four thriving threenagers for yourself!

Explore the Kingdom of Carnivores and see Hasani, Zulu, Iniko and Amara along with the rest of the pride as part of a summer safari day out for the family!