ARNHEM — On Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020 at around 19:30, a lioness at Royal Burgers' Zoo gave birth to triplets. On Tuesday, Dec. 1, the Arnhem Zoo will share a compilation of the first video footage made in the new mother's night enclosure.

The first days of life are often critical for large predators, which is why Burgers' Zoo initially provided the animals with as much peace, quiet and space as possible to ensure minimal disturbance.

Five lion cubs of different ages

Arnhem's pride has one adult male and two adult females. One of the lionesses gave birth to twins on July 27, 2020: a male and a female. With the birth of the triplets on Nov. 26 2020, there will soon be five lion cubs on display at Burgers' Zoo. However, the three newcomers will spend the next few weeks behind the scenes in a separate enclosure with their mother.

Natural situation

In the wild, heavily pregnant lionesses also temporarily detach from the group before giving birth to their young. They often seek shelter in wooded areas or other sheltered locations. The lioness will wait a while before rejoining the group with her new cubs. Burgers' Zoo simulates this natural situation as closely as possible. The mother is very protective and does not tolerate prying eyes.

Lions becoming less and less common

Even an iconic predator such as the lion, with few natural enemies other than humans, is becoming less and less common on the African savannahs. Loss of habitat, illegal hunting for trophies or traditional medicine, and human-animal conflict are taking their toll: the number of lions in the wild is drastically decreasing. — SG