The National Zoo and Aquarium is celebrating the arrival of three male lion cubs, marking an exciting new chapter for its growing pride.

Born on 22 November, the cubs have begun venturing outside and are already delighting visitors with their playful personalities.

“The three latest lion cubs were born on 22 November, so they’re now nearly four months old and starting to enjoy life outside and on display,” said Director/General Manager Paul Whitehorn.

The births follow the arrival of Nyra in April last year, the first lion born at the National Zoo in 20 years and the first in Australia to be co-parented by her mother, Nairibi, and the zoo’s carnivore keeping team.

While Nyra’s birth was planned as part of a regional breeding program, the arrival of her three younger brothers came as something of a surprise.

“Typically a female won’t cycle again for 12 to 18 months after giving birth,” Mr Whitehorn said. “But because Nyra was hand-raised and Nairibi stopped producing milk, she came back into season much sooner and was mated again.”

Now, with the cubs settling into life alongside their family, the pride has become the largest ever at the zoo.

Each cub is already showing its own personality.

“One is quite wild, one is very inquisitive and always the first to explore, and the third is a bit of a troublemaker, jumping on the others and stirring things up,” Mr Whitehorn said.

Big sister Nyra has also embraced her new role.

“She’s turned into an amazing big sister, helping keep the cubs entertained and giving mum a bit of a break,” said Mr Whitehorn.

The cubs have been named Tsenza, Kiazi and Mnavu, inspired by their round, well-fed appearance at birth.

“They were so chunky they looked like little potatoes, so that became a bit of a running joke with the keepers,” Mr Whitehorn said.

General Manager Renee Nasserpour said the growing pride offers a unique experience for visitors while supporting broader conservation efforts.

“This is a really special moment for the zoo,” she said. “There are very few places where you can be this close to a pride of lions and observe their behaviours so naturally.”

Beyond the excitement, the births also contribute to the long-term sustainability of lion populations.

“From a conservation perspective, it’s about strengthening genetic diversity, not just within our own pride but across regional and international populations,” Ms Nasserpour said.

The cubs are now on display at the National Zoo, visit the website for more details.