White lion cubs are the pride of the park

Apr 3 2007

MEET the latest new editions to West Midlands Safari Park who are who are the pride of staff - two rare white lion cubs.

Tara and Zara were born at the park in Bewdley on January 18 but are only now venturing out as they have been under the protective care of their four-year-old parents Natasha and Mubuto.

The birth of the two female cubs now brings the white lion pride at the park to ten.

Earlier this year staff celebrated the birth of the first white lion cubs in the UK when lioness Maryn gave birth to four tiny white bundles of joy in December.

The latest additions are a major achievement for staff at the park in Worcestershire.

Specialist keepers are currently on duty round the clock to care for the new cubs, which are also being closely monitored 24 hours a day by CCTV cameras.

Head warden at the park, Bob Lawrence said the pride was the only one in the UK adding the new additions would eventually join their cousins in the four-mile all-weather safari section at the park.

The first white lions were introduced to Bewdley in 2004 following the single biggest investment in the park's history.

They cost £250,000 and arrived from Africa, spending six months in quarantine at the park.

Staff have described the birth of six cubs in recent months as a "dream come true" particularly as there are thought to be fewer than 130 left in the wild.