For the first time in its 41-year history, Werribee Open Range Zoo in Victoria has welcomed a single lion cub, born on March 23 to first-time mother Asali and eight-year-old male Sheru. The birth represents a rare event in lion reproduction; while lion litters can range from one to six cubs, between two and four is the most common number.
The cub is developing at a remarkable pace. The cub appears to be embracing its solo life without sibling competition, as it is thriving in both size and development, according to zoo staff. Cubs are usually born with their eyes closed for three days and don't take their first steps for 15 days; however, this cub amazingly had its eyes open at the three-hour mark and was on the move after just 15 hours.
The birth occurs within the context of broader conservation challenges facing African lions. African lions are officially listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List, and their population has dropped to somewhere between 23,000 and 39,000 in the wild. African lion numbers are estimated to have declined by 40 per cent over the past three generations because of the destruction of habitat and food sources, pre-emptive or retaliatory killing by humans, climate change and the illegal wildlife trade.
Zoo staff have implemented careful protocols to support the mother and cub during this critical bonding period. The healthy cub was born following a three-and-a-half-month pregnancy, during which zoo veterinarians and keepers monitored Asali closely. To protect the natural bonding process and mimic wild behaviour, the pair will remain in a private area away from public view during the early weeks of development.
Father Sheru travelled to Werribee from Sydney Zoo in March 2022 to establish a new breeding pride. The zoo's efforts to maintain genetic diversity and support the species through managed breeding programs represent an important conservation strategy as wild populations continue to face mounting pressures from habitat loss, poaching, and conflict with human communities across Africa.