White lion cubs are pride of park
A Midlands safari park has unveiled its latest arrivals in time for Christmas – five white lion cubs to boost its already world-famous pride.
The cubs, four males and one female, were born at West Midland Safari Park in Bewdley, eight weeks ago and have been named Lucy, Oscar, Edgar, Casper and Harper by staff.
Keepers showed the cubs off for the first time yesterday as the attraction launched its festive programme of events.
But members of the public will have to wait a little longer to meet them as they will have to remain at the park's white lion nursery until they grow a little bigger.
Until then they will remain under the watchful eye of their mother Maryn.
The cubs will then join the pride's other youngsters Portia, Phoebe and Pandora, three other white lion cubs born at the park in July to mother Natasha.
They made their debut at the park in October and have already proved a major attraction for visitors.
The park has the largest pride of breeding white lions in the UK with the five new arrivals bringing the total number in the pride of 20.
It is hoped visitors will be able to see the five new cubs before Christmas.
Director of wildlife at the park Bob Lawrence said it had been a very successful two years breeding for the park.
"This is the second year in a row we have bred eight white lions here at the park.
"They are an attraction not only for visitors in this area but to wildlife lovers across the world.
"We often receive messages from as far away as Australia from people saying they have seen the pride on the website."
The venue will be staging its annual Santa Safari from December 1.
