4 Barbary lion cubs lately made their public debut at a Czech zoo that’s working to ultimately reintroduce the breed to its native habitat a long time after it went extinct within the wild.
The three females and one male had been seen taking part in of their outside enclosure at Dvůr Králové Safari Park on Wednesday, having fun with themselves underneath the watchful eyes of their mother and father, Khalila and Bart. The cubs had been born in early January and had been first noticed out within the lion pavilion in April.
Three of 4 Barbary lion cubs that had been born this 12 months on the Dvůr Králové Safari Park play with one another at their enclosure within the Czech Republic on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025.
Petr David Josek / AP
However their dwelling will change quickly. As a part of a world endangered species program that coordinates efforts for his or her survival in captivity, the cubs might be despatched to different taking part parks, together with the Beersheba zoo in Israel.
Likelihood is that may not be the top of the story for the animal.
Dvůr Králové Deputy Director Jaroslav Hyjánek mentioned that whereas preliminary steps have been taken for a doable reintroduction of the Barbary lion into its pure habitat, it’s nonetheless a “far distant future.”
The majestic member of the Northern lion subspecies, the Barbary lion as soon as roamed freely its native northern Africa, together with the Atlas Mountains.
An emblem of energy, they had been nearly utterly worn out resulting from human actions. Many had been killed by gladiators in Roman instances, whereas overhunting and a lack of habitat contributed to their extinction later.
One in every of 4 Barbary lion cubs that had been born this 12 months on the Dvůr Králové Safari Park performs with its mother and father on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, within the Czech Republic.
Petr David Josek / AP
The final identified photograph of a wild lion was taken in 1925, whereas the final particular person was killed in 1942. It’s believed the final small populations went extinct within the wild in the course of the Nineteen Sixties.
Fewer than 200 Barbary lions are at present estimated to stay in captivity.
These aren’t the primary Barbary cubs to be born on the Dvůr Králové Safari Park. Two cubs had been born in July 2021, three in July 2020 and two in Could 2019, all to mother Khalila who made her debut on the zoo in 2018.
The licensed breeding of the lions is “guided by the recommendations of the coordinator of the European Conservation Programme” on appropriate mates and the place to put cubs for the very best doable genetic range, the park mentioned.
“These steps are crucial for the survival of the species in the future,” the zoo mentioned.
One in every of 4 Barbary lion cubs that had been born this 12 months on the Dvůr Králové Safari Park rests with its mother and father Khalila, left, and Bart at their enclosure within the Czech Republic on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025.
Petr David Josek / AP
Male Barbary lion Bart and feminine Khalila relaxation of their enclosure within the Czech Republic on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025.
Petr David Josek / AP
Hyjánek mentioned that after preliminary talks with Moroccan authorities, who haven’t rejected the concept of their reintroduction, a convention of specialists has been deliberate to happen in Morocco late this 12 months or early 2026 to resolve whether or not it might make sense to go forward with such a plan in one of many nationwide parks within the Atlas Mountains.
Any reintroduction would face quite a few bureaucratic and different obstacles. For the reason that lion has not been current within the setting for such a very long time, the plans must guarantee their safety, a ample prey inhabitants and cooperation and approval from native communities.
Hyjánek mentioned such a transfer continues to be price making an attempt if it seems to be sustainable.
“It’s important to have such a vision for any animal,” he mentioned. “Without it, the existence of zoos wouldn’t make sense.”
One in every of 4 Barbary lion cubs that had been born this 12 months on the Dvůr Králové Safari Park runs in its enclosure within the Czech Republic on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025.
Petr David Josek / AP
Extra from CBS Information
