THESE young lions are celebrating their first birthday at their North Yorkshire home.
Jumatatu, Jumanne, Jumatano, Alhamisi and Ijumaa, whose names mean Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in Swahili, were yesterday receiving their presents at Flamingo Land, near Pickering, where they are the resident cubs.
Their arrival 12 months ago was anything but a normal one, with their ten-year-old mother, Zazzi, taking four days to give birth.
But the two male and three female lions all emerged fit and healthy and are now proving to be quite a handful for their mum and their father, Kumali, seven, as well as their two older sisters, Miska and Niyaka.
The Flamingo Land lion-keepers arranged some special birthday presents for their very own famous five, which they handed over yesterday.
Zoo manager Ross Snipp said: “They are very popular with the guests.
“Any baby animal is exciting but lion cubs really have the cute and cuddly factor that visitors love to see.
“We have nine lions in total – the five baby cubs, their mum and dad and two older sisters. It is a nice family unit of lions, very like what you would see in the wild, and each lion received a goodie bag full of tasty treats.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here