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Summary of Description:
African lion cub Pilipili at Lincoln Park Zoo debuted at Pepper Family Wildlife Center!
Pilipili (Pee-lee-pee-lee), which means ‘pepper’ in Swahili, explored the outdoor habitat alongside mom Zari and dad Jabari.
Since his birth on March 15, Pilipili and Zari, 4, have been bonding behind the scenes at Pepper Family Wildlife Center. This is Zari and Jabari’s first offspring. Zari and Jabari were recommended to breed as part of the African Lion Species Survival Plan®, collaborative population management among accredited zoos.
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African lion cub Pilipili at Lincoln Park Zoo debuted at Pepper Family Wildlife Center!
Pilipili (Pee-lee-pee-lee), which means ‘pepper’ in Swahili, explored the outdoor habitat alongside mom Zari and dad Jabari.
Since his birth on March 15, Pilipili and Zari, 4, have been bonding behind the scenes at Pepper Family Wildlife Center. This is Zari and Jabari’s first offspring. Zari and Jabari were recommended to breed as part of the African Lion Species Survival Plan®, collaborative population management among accredited zoos.
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Source Description
African lion cub Pilipili at Lincoln Park Zoo debuted at Pepper Family Wildlife Center!
Pilipili (Pee-lee-pee-lee), which means ‘pepper’ in Swahili, explored the outdoor habitat alongside mom Zari and dad Jabari.
Since his birth on March 15, Pilipili and Zari, 4, have been bonding behind the scenes at Pepper Family Wildlife Center. This is Zari and Jabari’s first offspring. Zari and Jabari were recommended to breed as part of the African Lion Species Survival Plan®, collaborative population management among accredited zoos.
African Lion Cubs: A Closer Look
African lion cubs are undeniably adorable, but there is so much more to them than just their cuteness. From the moment they are born, these little felines have much growing up to do.
Lion cubs are born with tawny black spots, eventually disappearing as they grow older. They typically weigh around three pounds at birth and can be carried in two to four cubs litters. The mother will care for her cubs for the first few months, nursing them and keeping them safe from predators.
Female lions usually stay with pride for life, while males often leave when they reach maturity. When the cubs go six months old, they start to learn how to hunt with their pride. During this time, the cubs will also learn important social skills such as communication and cooperation to help them survive in their environment.
As lion cubs grow older, their manes develop and become darker in color. Male lions have larger hairs than females, and it is thought that this helps them attract mates. The hair also protects against other male lions during fights over territory or mates.
In addition to hunting and developing social skills, lion cubs need plenty of playtimes to stay healthy and happy. Playtime helps them develop physical strength and coordination, which will be useful when they are ready to join the main hunts with their pride later in life.
It’s amazing how quickly lion cubs grow up! They go from helpless little newborns to strong young adults ready to take on the world in a few short months! It’s no wonder these majestic creatures have been so beloved by people worldwide for centuries!
Sources:
- https://lionalert.org/lion-cubs/
- https://www.africa-wildlife-detective.com/lion-cubs.html
- https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/lion
