In September of 2019, the cameras were rolling inside the lions' Predator Ridge habitat at the Denver Zoo … capturing a truly heartwarming moment between a father and his son.
Baby Tatu, an African lion, was born at the zoo on July 25, 2019. The playful, curious, and energetic cub became the star of weekly video updates posted online by the zoo's proud staff members.
Tatu is his mother Neliah's third offspring. He already weighs over 12 pounds — and his arrival into the world was a very big deal for his species.
DenverZoo.org reports:
“Half of Africa’s lions have disappeared in the past 25 years and the species faces growing threats from poaching, loss of prey and habitat destruction. The cub’s birth is a huge success for the Lion Species Survival Plan (SSP), which ensures healthy, genetically diverse populations of lions within Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) institutions.”
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In the video clip, the adorable cub finally gets to meet his father, Tobias. This was Tobias' first offspring, so it was particularly exciting to watch them meet!
Their initial meeting has been viewed more than half a million times.
