Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo is celebrating a historic moment: four healthy lion cubs have been born—the first litter in over 20 years, with the last birth occurring in 1991.
The 11-day-old cubs and their three-year-old mother, Adia, are thriving under careful observation. To ensure their safety and well-being, the family is currently in a maternity ward, away from public view, allowing Adia to care for her cubs naturally.
The cubs are the result of a carefully planned mating with 13-year-old Hubert, part of the Species Survival Plan to maintain genetic diversity and healthy lion populations across North America.
Visitors will have to wait a bit longer to see the cubs in person—the zoo requires temperatures to reach at least 50°F before the little lions can safely venture into public areas. In the meantime, enthusiasts can enjoy adorable videos and photos shared by the zoo.
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Watch the video below: