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Keepers at Monarto Safari Park in South Australia celebrated after four of the zoo’s lion cubs were welcomed into the resident pride with a successful meeting between the youngsters and three adult males.

In video shared on May 14, the zoo announced the face-to-face encounter between the cubs and the “big boys” was a success, allowing the three large males, the four cubs and three lionesses to live as one pride.

“In the wild, interactions between males and cubs can sometimes be less than friendly so it’s incredible to have the cubs and our three boys mixing so brilliantly,” the zoo’s carnivore keeper, Christy Tonkin, said.

Since their birth in February, the cubs had been growing up in the privacy of their own den with mum Husani before meeting their aunts Makena and Nia in early April. The entire pride then got together last week for the anticipated meeting in the lion night yards.

Although several times larger than the cubs, adult males Kubwa, Kito and Kashka appeared rather intimidated by the curious little cats and were seen running away from the cubs on numerous occasions.

“The cubs’ mum, Husani, is a pretty strong lioness, so it’s likely the males are avoiding doing the wrong thing by the little ones so they’re not scolded by Husani,” said Tonkin.

Brothers Kubwa, Kito and Kashka joined the wild family at Monarto Safari Park in 2018 after making the journey from Melbourne Zoo. They were born at Werribee Open Range Zoo in 2015.

Husani, Makena and Nia were born at Monarto Safari Park in 2013 and together with the males they make up part of the African Lion breeding program for the region.

Lion populations are declining with only around 25,000 to 30,000 thought to be left in the wild due to habitat loss and conflict with humans, the zoo said in a press release. Credit: Monarto Safari Park via Storyful