After months of bonding with their mother, lion cubs Adari and Zarina are officially ready for the spotlight at Lion Country Safari.
The cubs were born on April 21 of this year to first-time lioness mom Mara. Over the past few months, they’ve been under the care of Mara and Lion Country’s wildlife team, making friends and adjusting to life in the 12-lion pride. Now, visitors to Lion Country Safari can see the cubs at play in their new habitat as they drive through the wildlife park.
The public debut of Adari and Zarina couldn’t come soon enough for those that have watched the cubs grow through the live “Cub Cam.” Fans of the cubs decided on their names after two rounds of voting earlier this summer, with selections made from more than 700 submissions.
Lion Country Safari’s website refers to Zarina as the “resident troublemaker and social butterfly,” often coaxing her sister and mom into playtime, while Adari is much more comfortable cozying up for a nap in the shade. Both love playing with palm fronds and splashing in the shallow water and bonding with their big sister, Mashika.
“The cubs have been spending a lot of time with Mashika. They enjoy running, playing, and napping with her and when things get too rambunctious, Mara, their mom, will step in to quiet things down,” said Lion Country Safari General Curator Ashleigh Kandrac. “Mara has been doing a fantastic job raising and protecting her cubs and it’s been extremely rewarding for our team to see them hit all their milestones and now venture out into the habitat with the pride.”
To learn more about Lion Country Safari or plan a visit, click here.
