Three rare Barbary lion cubs born in Czech zoo park

The global population of one of the biggest lion subspecies is estimated at around 100

Last updated: September 10, 2020 | 14:35

AP and Compiled by Christian Borbon, Senior Web Editor

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Three Barbary lion cubs have been born in a Czech zoo, a vital contribution to a small surviving population of the rare lion subspecies that is extinct in the wild.

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The triplets, all female, were born on July 5 in the Dvur Kralove park.

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They have taken their first steps in their outdoor enclosure this week under the careful supervision of their mother, Khalila.

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They are yet to be named.

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One of the biggest lion subspecies, which once roamed its native northern Africa, Barbary lions were almost completely wiped out due to human activities.

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Many were killed by gladiators in Roman times, while hunting contributed to their extinction later.

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It's believed Barbary lions went extinct in the wild in the middle of the 1960s.

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Only a few dozen survived in the collection of the King of Morocco.

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The Czech zoo is part of a pan-European endangered species program that coordinates efforts for their survival in captivity.

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Currently, their global population is estimated at around 100.

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