Watch: Three endangered lion cubs born at London Zoo

The newborn triplets are from the Asiatic subspecies whose wild population is estimated at just 600 to 700

London Zoo has welcomed three lion cubs from an endangered subspecies.
The litter – who are yet to be named – arrived on March 13 and were born to parents seven-year-old mother Arya and 14-year-old father Bhanu.
Arya and Bhanu are kept at London Zoo as part of its international conservation breeding programme, which includes protecting an important back-up population of the big cats.
The newborn triplets are Asiatic lions, an endangered group with a wild population estimated at just 600 to 700.
The zoo said they are found in a single area, the Gir Forest in Gujarat in India, making them vulnerable to a disease outbreak or natural disaster.
Kathryn Sanders, the zoo’s head big cat keeper, said: “We are over the moon to be able to share the amazing news that we’ve had three endangered Asiatic lion cubs born at London Zoo.
“When the wild population is thought to be just 600 to 700 individuals, adding three to that number is a significant increase.
“Arya is proving to be a doting mum to her three cubs, and we’ve been able to observe some heartwarming moments via our hidden ‘cubcam’ – from their first feed to their first steps.
“They’re getting stronger every day and we’re delighted with their progress.”
Footage of the birth was captured by the “cubcam”, which showed the newborns being licked clean by their mother and then experiencing their first suckle.
Zookeepers have continued to monitor the cubs’ progress, including their first wobbly steps.
So far, they have remained inside their custom-built cubbing den, but they may begin to venture outside as the weather gets warmer, allowing visitors a glimpse of the zoo’s new additions.
Currently, visitors can see footage of the cubs in the Land of the Lions area.