This Father's Day will be the first time ZooMiami will introduce a complete lion pride.
According to zoo officials, this marks the first time in its 35-year history that an entire family of lions will be united.
ZooMiami will officially unite Jabari, the adult male lion, with Kashifa and her five cubs Saba, Bantu, Asani, Amirah and Kwasi. Kwasi is the son of Kashifa’s late sister, Asha, who passed away after complications from a veterinary procedure earlier this year.
The new pride will make its debut Sunday at 10 a.m. as a special tribute to Father’s Day.
The family has been gradually getting to know each other this past week under quiet and controlled circumstances. Zoo officials introduced Jabari to his five cubs for several hours under the watchful eye of Kashifa. Officials said it is not certain if Jabari is the father of the cubs, but that it is possible since only he and his brother Kwame had access to Kashifa.
During introductions, Kashifa eagerly welcomed Jabari, but the cubs were more apprehensive. Zoo officials said he was generally met with a hiss and a swipe from them since they were initially not very comfortable with his presence. When he became a little too rough with them, their protective mom jumped in and let him know to back off.
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Zoo officials said Jabari was a model dad and was, for the most part, very accepting of the cubs.
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