Live Lion Cub Births March 2, 2014 (Viewer Discretion Advised)
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Note: This video shows live animal birth. Viewer discretion advised. One of the most vulnerable times for an adult female lion in the wild is when she gives birth. Lionesses give birth alone, in areas where they feel safe. At the Smithsonian's National Zoo, we give our female lions access a safe and quiet birthing area that includes a den and an enclosure. As stewards of a living collection, we are always conscious of the cycle of life. Our internal cam allows our curators and biologists to watch and learn more about the birth process for an African lioness. It's a valuable learning experience for our scientists that we also want to share with you! Together with Naba's cubs born on Jan. 24, there are now six more precious lions in the African Lion Species Survival Plan, a program that matches individual animals across the country for breeding in order to maintain a healthy, genetically diverse and self-sustaining population. African lion populations in the wild have dwindled by 30 percent during the past 20 years due to poaching, disease and habitat loss. They are considered a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. #WeSaveSpecies
