AssetID: 54908615
Headline: RAW VIDEO: Paws-itively Adorable! Lion Cubs Take Their First Steps Into The Wild
Caption: Three lion cubs have made their grand debut at West Midlands Safari Park – and it’s safe to say they’ve already become the pride of the park. The 12-week-old trio, named Nero, Nox and Nancy, melted hearts as they took their first tentative steps into the big wide world on Wednesday, 9 July, under the watchful eye of their doting mum, Amber. The proud lioness, who’s 12 years old, gently coaxed her little ones outside with a series of soft grunts – and the result was a scene straight out of a Disney movie. The cubs’ big adventure came just a day after receiving their second round of vaccinations, but they didn’t let a quick trip to the vet slow them down. Eager to explore, the wide-eyed youngsters began investigating their safari habitat with all the curiosity you'd expect – pouncing on sticks, darting through bushes, and even getting excited by the sight of a passing gull and butterfly. Head Keeper of Carnivores, Kasha Carter, shared the magical moment the lion family stepped out together: "Once we opened the door to let Amber and the cubs out on safari, Amber came out a couple of times first, to check that everything was fine. She then encouraged her cubs to follow her out and all three were fairly confident but kept close to mum." She added: "They spent a lot of time near the lion house initially but soon started playing with sticks and darting in and out of the bushes. We also witnessed them seeing a passing gull and butterfly for the first time, which they were really interested in." To help them settle in, keepers introduced the cubs to a few more members of their extended lion family – including half-sister Hernatty and the ever-reliable Dakota, affectionately known by staff as the pride’s seasoned babysitter. "Hernatty has never seen cubs before, so was very cautious at first," Kasha explained. «But she began playing with them and even showed them new areas of the habitat to explore and things to do, such as watching the hoofstock on the other side of the fence line! It has been a very tiring day for them all, so they also had to fit in many power naps to help with the excitement!" The trio were born on 13 April 2025, right in the middle of a baby boom at the park, which also welcomed three rare Sumatran tiger cubs, an Indian rhino calf, two blesbok calves and a barasingha fawn in recent months. But these little lions represent more than just cuteness – they’re also a crucial part of conservation efforts. Lions are currently listed as ‘vulnerable’ in the wild by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with populations now surviving in just 6% of their historic range. Habitat destruction, loss of prey and human conflict have all played a part in the species’ dramatic decline. In a nod to 2025’s animal naming theme at the park, all new arrivals have been given names starting with the letter ‘N’ – hence Nero, Nox and Nancy. Now that the cubs have braved their first day outside, keepers will gradually begin introducing them to the rest of the pride, starting with the females before moving on to the males – including their formidable father, Tsavo. Meanwhile, the cubs' big brothers – Hodge, Havoc and Harabi – along with half-brother Hercules, can be spotted lounging around Lion Ridge in the Safari Walk area, keeping an eye on their new siblings from afar.
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