Special Events > Pride of Racine Presented by Johnson Bank
Two Transvaal lion cubs, one male and one female, were born at the Zoo on March 16, 2010.
Parents
Mother: Elsa, age 6
Father: Aslan, age 6
Names
The lion cubs need names and you can help! Enter the Pride of Racine Name the Cubs contest presented by Johnson Bank and The Journal Times between now and May 24, 2010. Click here for contest rules or here for an on-line entry form.
Updates
March 16: Lion cubs are born between 8:00 am and 9:00 am and doing well.
March 25: Mom leaves the cubs for the first time to go outside to eat. Animal Care Specialists weigh the male and female cubs at 2.2 kg. and 2.4 kg. respectively. Cubs’ eyes are open.
March 29: Male weighs 2.4 kg. Female weighs 2.5 kg.
April 1: Cubs are spending time outside the cubbing den, trying to walk.
April 8: Cubs are climbing rockwork steps, still challenged trying to walk.
April 17: Cubs very active moving around dens with mom.
April 18: Male weighs 4.9 kg., Female weighs 5.4 kg. Female is feisty and vocal.
April 22: Zoo officially announces their births.
April 29: First vet exam. They received vaccinations. Male weighs 6.4 kg. Female weighs 5.8 kg.
April 30: Cubs seen eating mom’s food. (Their primary source of nutrition is via nursing.)
May 2: Cubs getting more rowdy; getting around and exploring more often, sleeping a little less, playing rough with each other.
May 4: Female cub came over and ate meat from keeper for the first time; male cub still hesitant.
May 5: Cubs climbing on the mesh in dens, becoming more sure-footed. Cubs have been more interested in Aslan (Dad) and the keepers.
May 7: Male weighed at 6.6Kg, female weighed at 7.3Kg.
May 20-Veterinary exam #2: The cubs received vaccinations, physical exams, and fecal samples were taken. Both were more difficult to handle this time and the female was especially difficult and LOUD!
Weights: Male-8.6kg, Female-9.8kg
May 27th: Elsa, Badu and Zuka introduced to the indoor lion exhibit and have access to it every day. New enrichment is put out for them to play with and explore. Elsa is a bit uncomfortable on the indoor exhibit, so sometimes she will stay in the den, watching the cubs play on the exhibit. They are using their teeth and claws to test out the branches and other "furniture" and enrichment on exhibit too.
June 1: Both cubs are more interested in tasting the meat. Elsa is hungry and tries to consume most of the meat herself, because she needs all the energy availalbe to produce milk for feeding and keeping up with the demanding job of caring for the cubs' needs.
June 5: Badu is getting more curageous and is starting to come over to the keepers like his sister does.
July: Lion cubs Badu and Zuka have their teeth and are now getting their own meat diet everyday instead of stealing some of mom's food.
- Cubs get 1 lbs. of meet per day to share, but they are still nursing, too.
- Enjoy running and playing with each other.
- Dad, Aslan, does very well with them, sharing his food and enrichment. He also grooms them and let's them jump and bite him as part of their play.
- Cubs are starting to vocalize to each other more often.
Two Transvaal lion cubs, one male and one female, were born at the Zoo on March 16, 2010. 
