Adopted lion cubs move into public enclosure

The sanctuary received the cubs when they were five-days-old

The public can now see four lion clubs that have been cared for by an animal park in Kent.

Howletts Wild Animal Park near Canterbury took on Simbi, Kari, Zimmy and Cazzo when they were five days old after hearing that their breeder planned to euthanise them after their mother died.

The team at Howletts have hand-reared the cubs since their arrival and now, after six months, they are healthy enough to be out in their own enclosure at the sanctuary.

Ghislaine Belither, carnivore keeper at the sanctuary, said: "They've all got completely different personalities."

The cubs are now healthy enough to be in a public enclosure

Ms Belither said: "You've got a very independent girl who just gets on with whatever she wants to do.

"You've got two very cheeky girls who are often rolling each other over and tripping each other up and causing havoc, and then you've got a very sweet [cub], we refer to him as the baby, in the male."

In 2023, two other lion cubs cared for by the sanctuary were also moved to a public enclosure.