Sisters Naba and Shera, left, and 4-year-old male, Luke, at right. Images courtesy Smithsonian’s National Zoo.
Two of the National Zoo's lions, 4-year-old male Luke and 6-year-old female Naba, recently successfully mated, zoo officials said Tuesday, though the Zoo will not be able to determine whether Naba is pregnant until the beginning of April.
The hook-up was engineered by zookeepers who are hoping to breed an entire lion pride at the National Zoo. The Zoo's two female lions, sisters Naba and Shera, were introduced to Luke slowly more than a year ago -- first just letting them sniff each other through a mesh door, then eventually having each female spend short periods of time with him indoors. The hope is that Naba will give birth to two to four cubs, and that Luke will subsequently also mate with 5-year-old Shera, producing cubs of her own. If successful, the pride, which would include both female's offspring, would be able to live together in an outdoor enclosure at the zoo.
Zoo officials said that it has been many years since they have had the right combination of lions by age and gender to develop a pride. If Naba fails to go into heat next month, then keepers will know she is pregnant, and the pride could be well underway.
To follow the National Zoo’s progress in building a lion pride, check these updates from the Zoo’s lion keepers.
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