Luke Plays with All Seven Cubs at the Smithsonian's National Zoo

In this video from Sunday, Jan. 9, Luke and the cubs enjoy a playful morning indoors.

The keepers have taken the last step in their build-a-pride project by sending family introductions outside to the yard for the first time. They're happy to report that everything went smoothly.

The best time to view the lion cubs is 12:30 every day, but there is no guarantee that they will be on exhibit. Animal care staff will decide if the cubs will go out based on weather, animal behavior and health, and staff availability. Some circumstances may require keepers to shift the cats inside. As the weather improves, we anticipate that the cubs will spend more time outside. We will do our best to keep you informed and apologize if the cubs are not outside during your visit to the Zoo. We thank you for understanding and sharing our concern for their safety.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Luke
• Cubs
• national zoo
• Smithsonian
• Washington d.c.

[JennNOVA1]

Did the Lion & Cub Keepers expect Luke to respond so well and be so interactive with all the cubs? I've read that male lions have been known to attack their own cubs in the wild and the female lions are very protective of their cubs. Is the difference because they do not live in the wild or is it more of a personality type of thing?

[SmithsonianNZP]

@JennNOVA1 While male lions in the wild have been known to kill the cubs of other lions when they move in and take over a pride, they are usually very good with their own cubs. This is what we expected from Luke. Even so, we let Shera and Naba’s comfort level with Luke be our guide. After the cubs were born we gave Luke access to them and the mothers through a “howdy door”—a door they could see and smell through, but not touch each other.

[SmithsonianNZP]

@JennNOVA1 When the cubs were several weeks old, we observed Naba and Shera bringing cubs to the howdy door to show Luke. We took this as the cue that we could start, very cautiously, introducing Luke to the cubs. We went very slowly, as we do with all animal introductions, and monitored everyone’s behavior and reactions.

[SmithsonianNZP]

@JennNOVA1 You can read more about Luke's introduction to his cubs by going to the lion section of the National Zoo website, clicking on "Lion Updates" and scrolling down to the one called "Luke Meets the Cubs."

[CortxVortx]

Hop on Pop!

[MereMemphis]

Expanding a bit on what JennNova1 was saying, when I see videos of lions in the wild, it seems that the male is much more aloof with the cubs than what I'm seeing here. Like, when you see the prides on shows such as Big Cat Diaries. Occasionally they show affection, but I've never seen anything like this.

This lion seems so engaged, I don't think I've ever seen videos of a male lion being so affectionate and involved with cubs. Thank you for this!

[rjh490]

bear hug 0:48 the cub looked like it got a shock coz it just walked off and stopped playing unless it hurt him

[cupidgirl1231]

0:06 AMBUSH 1:02 GO AWAY

[NEXTLOVER]

LOL, it seems like Luke was taken aback. You can almost see him thinking, "Holy sh--, all these are mine?!" It's just so funny watching this video. Lions are just so funny, period LOL.

[BOOM7STAR]

That's so true i just watch a documentary called Lions of Darkness one of the 3 pride males did not allow the mothers to eat a warthog only the cubs were allowed the moms would come close and and he warned them off.

[HenryDavidT]

One of the most unique qualities of Lions, among all the big cats, is of course that the fathers play a big, integral part in raising/protecting their small cubs. Fathers, in the wild, have been authenticated in various documentaries to use their physical prowess to keep the mothers away, in a certain feeding situation, when the cubs are still too small & cannot fight for food on their own, so the cubs could eat... either with their fathers or by themselves, with the fathers near by...

[maxi098]

If I were to be born again, I wish I was a lion.

[shadowcatgc]

This is adorable!! Rarely do we get to see videos of how cute and friendly lions can be as a family.

Also, Luke is a beautiful lion!

[DancingSpiderman]

Unbelievably cute, daddy has laid down on the floor, and the babies are climbing on daddy... so... adorable and utterly sweet.

[DancingSpiderman]

Ohh shooo KEWUuuuute !

The Today Show was at the zoo, and the babies were squeaking !

I'm just totally smitten with cuteness right now!

[Alchemical]

Beautiful lions.