Cubs make their first public appearance. Click image to see full-sized version.
Because Defenders was a finalist for naming two of the Smithsonian National Zoological Park’s new lion cubs, I had the privilege this past Saturday of attending the introduction of these frolicking felines to the outside world.
Although our names didn’t win, we think the first-grade class at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School in Manassas, Virginia and daycare class at Bright Horizons Child Care & Education at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Virginia made excellent choices with Lelie and Baruti, respectively. Lelie means “lily” in Afrikaans and Baruti is an African name for “teacher.”
Learn the names and meanings of all seven of the cubs.
Congratulations to everyone who submitted names and—most important—to lion moms Shera and Naba for bringing these seven cubs into the world!
Get updates on the National Zoo’s lions.
Find out what Defenders is doing to help save lions in the wild.
One mom oversees the action from above, while the other stays close by the young explorers.
Follow Defenders of Wildlife
facebook twitter instagram youtube tiktok threads