Attention animal lovers: the National Zoo has an important announcement!
The great cats team is ready. It's swim test time! #WeSaveSpecies pic.twitter.com/gqn2VXykgz
— National Zoo (@NationalZoo) May 6, 2014The 10-week-old African lion cubs have passed their swimming test, putting them one step closer to making their public debut.
First up was the male he passed! #WeSaveSpecies pic.twitter.com/6EJ5JqjZHk
— National Zoo (@NationalZoo) May 6, 2014Left rib female is next. She's a real swimmer and vocalized a lot! #WeSaveSpecies pic.twitter.com/MeaCaCoZZR
— National Zoo (@NationalZoo) May 6, 2014Right rib male cub is next! He passes too! #WeSaveSpecies pic.twitter.com/c9AyizJGFb
— National Zoo (@NationalZoo) May 6, 2014
Last cub, right hip also passed! #WeSaveSpecies pic.twitter.com/MkXNoLh3G6
— National Zoo (@NationalZoo) May 6, 2014On Tuesday, the three male and one female cubs kept their heads above water, climbed onto dry land, and navigated their way to the shallow end of the moat as they set out to pass their first swim test.
Our animal care team triumphantly shouted out that all the cubs passed! They'll be ready to go on exhibit in a few weeks! #WeSaveSpecies
— National Zoo (@NationalZoo) May 6, 2014“It’s possible that a cub could be playing around and get knocked into the moat by a parent or sibling,” said Kristen Clark, an animal keeper at the Great Cats exhibit. “We want to make sure that if they find themselves in that situation, they know how to pull themselves out of the water and onto shore.”
While these four cubs, who were born March 2, will not make their public debut until June, the two other cubs, who were born in January and already passed their swim test in April, will go on exhibit to the public this weekend.
Abby Borovitz