A trio of Lion cubs is thriving behind the scenes at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo NSW.
Lioness Marion gave birth to the three cubs on Friday 21 February 2025, her third litter with the Zoo’s breeding male Lwazi.
Senior Lion Keeper Mel Friedman said Marion gave birth to all three cubs naturally without any intervention, despite the first cub being born breech.

“She gave birth to one boy and two girls with four hours between each birth, so it was a very long day for all of us keepers, but most importantly, for Marion!” Mel said.
“She’s a brilliant mum, and like a duck to water, she took care of the cubs from day dot and they’re hitting all their milestones.
 

“They’re about five weeks old now and almost at the five-kilogram mark, so they’re doing really well, even starting to explore around their den area.”
The newborns will spend their first few months of life behind the scenes, receiving health checks and vaccinations before Marion introduces them to the world outside the den. This will include meeting their dad, Lwazi, and older siblings Amali, Imani and Mara – born in April 2022, and Bahati, Jabari and Zawadi – born in October 2023.

“We need the cubs to be a little bit bigger before they start meeting their older siblings, because they will play rough with them,” Mel said.

“The three-year-old girls have met cubs before, but the 17-month-old cubs haven’t seen lions smaller than them, so it will be a slow and steady process.”
Each day, keepers give Marion the opportunity to join the rest of her family on exhibit for a short period, before returning to her cubs.

“This ensures that her bonds with the pride remain strong, but it also gives keepers an opportunity to go into the den with the cubs,” Mel said.
“This is good for their development because they can get used to us, and when the time comes for vaccinations and microchipping, it’s a less stressful event for them.
“It also builds the rapport we will need to work with them as they get older.”

It is expected the cubs will make their public debut by winter. In the meantime, guests can see African Lion Lwazi and his six eldest children at Lion Pride Lands at Taronga Western Plains Zoo.