Father Joins Lion Cubs At Philadelphia Zoo
By John McDevitt
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- For many new mothers and fathers four babies all at once could cause a bit of an uproar. The male lion at the Philadelphia Zoo is slowly getting adjusted to his new family.
Expecting female lions in the wild go into isolation to have their cubs. The father reunites with them several months later. Back in June, four cubs were born at the Philadelphia Zoo. The other and the babies were kept separately from the male lion. Earlier this week, dad Makini, met the kids for the first time. Lead keeper Kay Buffamonte says he is gradually being introduced.
"So Mom and dad are doing really well. Mom is really pretty focused on the kids and is the more dominant personality in the family. So it's actually her job since she has been raising these little ones to let 400 pound dad know that he needs to be gentle. She pushes at him with her face and with her body and says okay be easy so she has taken on that role pretty actively," Buffamonte said.
Buffamonte says because mom is very protective of her cubs, there have been no examinations so whether they are male or female cubs has yet to be determined.
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