Werribee Open Range Zoo is celebrating the birth of a lion cub, the first single cub born in the zoo’s 41-year history. The cub was born on the evening of March 23, 2025, to seven-year-old first-time mother Asali and eight-year-old father Sheru.
Lion litters typically consist of two to four cubs, making this single birth a unique event for the zoo. Despite being an only cub, this little one is already surpassing developmental milestones. Cubs are usually born with their eyes closed for three days and don’t take their first steps for 15 days; however, this cub amazingly had its eyes open at the three-hour mark and was on the move after just 15 hours.
Both Asali and her cub are reported to be in excellent health, spending time bonding in a private den away from public view. This seclusion mimics wild behaviour, where a lioness keeps her cubs hidden before introducing them to the pride.T he cub will undergo its first health check in the coming weeks to determine its sex, after which it will be named.
This birth is particularly significant given the declining numbers of lions in the wild, with only about 23,000 individuals remaining. The arrival of this cub contributes to the conservation efforts aimed at preserving this iconic species.
Zoo visitors can look forward to seeing the cub in person once it has grown sufficiently and is introduced to the public in the coming months.
