San Francisco Zoo Welcomes New Lion Cub

A new resident arrived at the San Francisco Zoo early last Sunday morning.

Around 2:30 a.m. African lioness Sukari, one of two lionesses housed at the zoo, gave birth to a cub, according to zoo officials.

“We’re past the first 72 hours, which are critical to the cub’s survival,” the zoo’s executive director, Tanya Peterson said. “Sukari is bonding with and nursing her cub well.”

The zoo’s staff will not find out the cub’s sex for approximately three weeks, zoo officials said.

“We give the new mother and cub a wider berth, respecting their privacy to encourage their bond,” curator of primates and carnivores at the zoo, Corinne MacDonald said.

Zoo staff will continue to monitor the mother and cub through a remote camera that has been installed in the lioness’ den, according to zoo officials.

The cub is 25th cub born at the zoo since 1960.

--Bay City News Service, photo courtesy of the San Francisco Zoo