Three White Lion Cubs Born at Tbilisi Zoo

TBILISI – Tbilisi Zoo on Tuesday welcomed the birth of three rare white lion cubs, the Zoo’s Facebook page announced while posting pictures of the newborns.

According to a press release, this is a first addition to the zoo’s big cat family following a devastating flash flood in June 2015 that left most of the zoo’s animal inhabitants dead and destroyed the lower portion of the park.

The zoo’s announced via Facebook that Cleopatra, a female African lion, and her three newborn cubs were all healthy and have recovered.

“Currently, the newborn babies are being kept in a closed cage and away from the public so they can adapt to the calm environment. Their mother will most likely let them out in the coming days, and everyone will have a chance to come and see them for the first time,” the zoo’s Facebook page sais in its announcement.

The cubs have yet to be named by the zookeepers as they are still waiting to determine all of the genders of the litter.

In addition to the albino lion family, the zoo’s main attraction is Begi the Hippo, who gained international fame as he roamed through the streets of central Tbilisi in a daze after last year’s flood washed away his enclosure.

European zoos have donated new animals to the zoo, including wildebeests, mongoose and porcupines, to help rehabilitate and repopulate the number of residents at the park.

By Tamar Svanidze

Edited by Nicholas Waller

Photo: Tbilisi Zoo