Eager Papa Lion Is In Awe While Meeting Baby Cub For The First Time
A baby lion meeting his pride for the first time is already adorable, but this one comes with a full dose of Disney-level charm. The little cub, Tatu, spent his first weeks bonding with mama Neliah while the rest of the family stayed close behind a mesh divider, including dad Tobias, sister Kamara, and aunt Sabi.
That setup gave the cub time to settle in before the big introduction, and the moment finally arrived when the family got to meet face-to-face. Once that happened, the reaction was exactly what you would hope for from a proud lion pride.
And yes, the internet had feelings about it too.
Did your heart swell? I know mine sure did. Insert all the heart emojis!
The public got to help decide what to name this adorable 12-pound ball of energy. They had three names to choose from.
The names in the running were:
• Meru
Meru is the name of a mountain in Tanzania.
• Moremi
Moremi is the name of a game reserve in Botswana.
• Tatu
Tatu is the Swahili word for the number three. This is Neliah's third cub.
The winner? TATU!!!
It was announced on October 1st!
If you'd like to make a donation to the Denver Zoo, you can do so via the link below.
https://www.denverzoo.org/support/
This twisty predator-prey moment echoes a baby baboon landing in a lioness’ lap, and her unexpectedly gentle response.
Playful Tatu!
Want another lion cuddle moment, watch a majestic lion embracing a cub like Mufasa.
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