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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Tim McNulty

Edinburgh Zoo’s lion cubs enjoy purrfect gifts for Valentine’s Day

Edinburgh Zoo's pride of lions have been spotted getting into the Valentine's Day spirit.

Staff from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland decided to treat their endangered Asian lions Roberta and Jayendra to decorated boxes full of treats.

Roberta and Jayendra were joined last summer by newborns, Mitaali, Keshari and Kushanu.

Now, the Zoo have shared photos of the proud parents celebrating the romantic day with their six-month old cubs.

Edinburgh Zoo has shared adorable photos of their six-month old Asiatic lion cubs (RZSS/Sian Addison)

The three cubs were born at Edinburgh Zoo in August 2019 and named in tribute to the Gir forest in western India where the endangered species is found.

The family are all are part of the European endangered species programme for the Asiatic lion, a species estimated to only have between 350 and 650 individuals left in the wild.

The Asian lion differs from the African lion in several ways. Asian lions are generally smaller than their African cousins, and the males do not develop such a substantial mane, so their ears are more visible.

Looks like a fun day for the adorable cubs.

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