A lioness at the Columbus Zoo has given birth to a litter of cubs less than a week after her half-sister also gave birth.
Zoo officials announced Saturday that 8-year-old Kazi gave birth to three cubs on Thursday. The newspaper reports that although one of the cubs has died, zoo officials are optimistic about the health of the two surviving cubs. Kazi is a first-time mother.
Kazi's half-sister Asali delivered four cubs in the zoo's lion yard on Aug. 16. Zoo officials say all four of Asali's cubs are doing well.
The lion habitat will remain closed to allow the mothers and their offspring some quiet. Both mothers were mated with a lion named Tomo.
