African lions

Whipsnade Zoo is home to North African lions, including seven lion cubs from two litters. 

Lion cub updates 

• 24 March - Fur-st time out for Waka's cubs

Waka's quartet took their first steps outside to explore their paddock, under the watchful eye of their mother Waka. The eight-week-old cubs were spotted running, climbing, and playfighting - see if you can spot them on your next visit. 

• 4 March 2025 - Winta's cubs have first health check  

Each cub was vaccinated, sexed, microchipped, and given a health check, and we now know that the 14-week-old trio are two males and one female - two kings and a queen of the savannah! They are already developing strong personalities – the female is feisty and bold, whilst one of the males is a little quieter but can fix you with a good glare!

Winta is taking great care of her cubs, but they need a little extra attention from keepers and vets too – we'll be monitoring one of the males who was found to have a heart murmur very closely.

• 6 February 2025 - First steps outside for Winta's cubs

The nine-week-old cubs ventured outside of their indoor den for the first time. They appeared tentative at first, but with a little encouragement from mum Winta, were soon spotted chasing each other and playfighting in their grassy paddock.

• 23 January 2025 - Four cubs are born to mum Waka

A second litter of lion cubs have been born, just two months after lioness Winta gave birth to her three, bringing the total number of lions at Whipsnade Zoo to ten. They'll be keeping warn and cosy in their indoor den for a little while and their sexes will be confirmed at their health check at around 10 weeks old. 

• 25 November 2024 - Three lion cubs have been born to mum Winta

A trio of rare Northern African lion cubs have been born, marking a huge conservation success for the vulnerable species. 

Footage captured by our ‘cub cam’ CCTV shows attentive mum Winta being tender with her tiny newborns, carefully cleaning and nuzzling them. Keepers were happy to see the three cubs quickly get the hang of suckling, and the tiny trio have spent their first few weeks mostly eating and snoozing.

Mum is Winta, who arrived at Whipsnade from Antwerp Zoo in Belgium in early May 2023, and dad is Malik who joined us a month later from Neuwied Zoo in Germany. 

Visit our lion pride at Whipsnade Zoo