The cubs were born on December 23 to mother Kaya and dad Shombay

Jan 7, 2014 02:51 GMT  ·  By
On December 23, a lioness at Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, Arizona delivered a litter of five
   On December 23, a lioness at Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, Arizona delivered a litter of five

Just two days before Christmas, a lioness living at Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, Arizona delivered a litter of five. Unfortunately, just four of the baby lions survived.

Zoo Borns tells us that three of the four remaining cubs are males. The other one is a female.

Although two of the males and the baby lioness are putting on weight at a fairly quick pace, the fourth cub appears to be having trouble getting thicker around the waist.

What's more, it seems that it is not as strong at its siblings, the same source details.

Keepers are monitoring the lion family around the clock, and are doing their best to ensure that Kaya's remaining cubs survive.

“It would be a challenge for five cubs to thrive – and we are monitoring the health of the remaining four offspring closely – it is still a large litter. I am cautiously optimistic at this point,” veterinarian Alexis Moreno explained in a statement.

For the time being, the lion mom and its offspring live in an off-exhibit enclosure.

The baby lions' dad, Shombay, has not yet had the chance to meet the cubs. However, keepers say that it stays in contact with Kaya by vocalizing.