Woburn Safari Park's 'lockdown lion cubs' take first steps outside

Woburn Safari Park's "lockdown lion cubs" have been exploring their new playground for the first time.

The five cubs were born at the Bedfordshire park in the early hours of April 24 - but yesterday (June 29) was their first "day out".

Keepers said it looked like mother Dakota would "have her paws full".

This is her second litter, following the five she gave birth to in 2014, and increases the park's pride to 13 lions.

The nine-week-old cubs - four boys and one girl - have had their first health check and vaccinations.

Craig Lancaster, the park's head of carnivores, said: “It is wonderful to welcome yet another litter of cubs to the park, especially one as large as this.

"The cubs are all looking healthy and are content in their surroundings. They will be able to venture outside after all of their vaccinations are up to date in late June.”

Dakota is being fed five days out of every seven, with keepers monitoring how much she eats each day to decide what days she is fed on.

Normally the lions are fed large meals every four days to mimic wild hunting patterns, including feast days and fast periods. 

As well as Dakota, father Joco and their new arrivals, the Woburn lion pride also includes Abi, Tyra, Tallulah and Zuri with her two young cubs, Kahari and Kojo.