Four rare Barbary lion cubs born at Czech zoo

  Four rare Barbary lion cubs born at Czech zoo, their population is extinct in the wild

Four Barbary lion cubs were born recently in a Czech zoo, a vital contribution for a small surviving population of the rare lion which is extinct in the wild. Lion which once roamed northern Africa has been extinct in the wild since 1960s. The three females and one male were found playing in their outdoor enclosure at Dvůr Králové safari park under the watchful eye of their parents, Khalila and Bart.

The majestic member of the Northern lion subspecies, the Barbary lion once roamed freely its native northern Africa, including the Atlas Mountains. A symbol of strength, they were almost completely wiped out due to human activities. Many were killed by gladiators in Roman times, while overhunting and a loss of habitat also contributed to their decline. The last known photo of a wild lion was taken in 1925. It is believed the last small populations went extinct in the wild in the mid-1960s. Fewer than 200 Barbary lions are now estimated to live in captivity.

Czech zoo welcomes 4 rare Barbary lion cubs whose population is extinct in the wild. The situation is expected to change, as part of an international endangered species program which coordinates efforts for their survival in captivity, the cubs will be sent to other participating parks, including the Beersheba zoo in Israel. There is a chance which may not be the end of the story. The deputy director of Dvůr Králové, Jaroslav Hyjánek, said preliminary steps had been taken to possibly reintroduce the Barbary lion into its natural habitat, but that was still in the “far distant future”.

Hyjánek said that after initial talks with Moroccan authorities, who have not rejected the idea of their reintroduction, a conference of experts is planned to take place in Morocco late this year or early 2026 to decide whether it would make sense to go ahead with such a plan in one of the national parks in the Atlas Mountains. Hyjánek said such a move is still worth trying if it turns out to be sustainable. “It’s important to have such a vision for any animal,“ he said. “Without it, the existence of zoos wouldn’t make sense.” Any reintroduction would face bureaucratic and other obstacles. As the lions have not been present in the environment for so long, the plans would have to ensure the animals’ protection, a sufficient prey population and cooperation and approval from local communities.