Givskud Zoo Zootopia, Denmark, welcomes a new generation of lions. The two lionesses, both first-time mothers, have begun moving their cubs from one den to another — a natural behaviour that helps protect them during their first weeks of life.
Venturing outdoors marks an important milestone in the cubs’ development. During the first weeks, the mothers and their cubs alternate short explorations with long periods hidden in the vegetation, following the species’ natural rhythm.
First-time mothers
Both lionesses were born at Givskud Zoo and are raising cubs for the first time. For this reason, keepers are closely monitoring the development of both litters.
“First-time mothers need to gain experience and, as happens in the wild, there is always a risk that not all the cubs will survive. Nevertheless, we are delighted to see a new generation joining the pride and, of course, we hope there will be more births in the future,” says park biologist Kim Skalborg Simonsen.
Why there had been no lion births for four years
The absence of new cubs was linked to the pride’s natural management. The park’s previous breeding male died at the end of 2021, while his daughters were still too young.
In the wild, a newly arrived male will often kill cubs sired by another lion in order to pass on his own genes, and this behaviour can also occur in zoological parks. For this reason, Givskud Zoo waited until the young lionesses had reached sexual maturity before introducing a new breeding male.
The choice fell on Varis, selected through the European conservation breeding programme. At first, the male took time to settle in and interact with the females, but once the pride was successfully established, the first signs of pregnancy soon followed.
Today, Givskud Zoo is home to two lion prides: one consisting of four females, and a second made up of one male, three females and the first litter of four cubs, which visitors can already observe in the park’s drive-through safari.
