Idaho Falls Zoo lion cubs explore outdoor exhibit for first time

The Idaho Falls Zoo lion cubs got to check out their outdoor exhibit today.

The cubs, named Ilanga and Kamaria, were born in July. They have been slowly getting adjusted to the other lions as well as their surroundings. This was their first time exploring the outdoor exhibit.

The cubs currently weigh 15 to 20 pounds. They are the second cubs born to mother Kimani in five months. Zookeepers say their personalities have started to show in the last two weeks.

“We’re definitely seeing some personality differences amongst them,” Dallas LaDucer, Idaho Falls Zoo Zookeeper, said. “One of them seems to be kind of a bit of a momma’s girl. She just kind of follows here around all the time, really close by. Mom just needs to walk around the exhibit and that cub kind of follows her wherever she goes. The other seems to be a little bit more independent where she’ll either get left behind or just go off on her won and kind of do her own thing.”

Make sure to go see the lion cubs before the zoo closes for the winter. The cubs will weigh around 100 pounds when the zoo opens back up in the spring.