Lion cubs Simba, Suri moved to open enclosure in Thiruvananthapuram zoo for public viewing

Lion cubs Simba, Suri moved to open enclosure in Thiruvananthapuram zoo for public viewing Published – August 19, 2026 09: 00 pm IST – Thiruvananthapuram.

Key points

• The two lions had been brought from Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, in June 2023.
• Simba and Suri, the seven-month-old lion cubs at the Thiruvananthapuram zoo, created their public debut on Wednesday.
• Prasanth were present to mark their shifting to an open enclosure ahead of Onam.
• The shift to an open enclosure marks the start of a new chapter in their journey to adulthood.
• Anil Kumar oversaw the shifting of the cubs to the open enclosure.

Minister for Museums and Zoos O.J. Janeesh and Museums and Zoos Special Secretary N. Prasanth were present to mark their shifting to an open enclosure ahead of Onam.

Till now, the cubs had not been in the public eye; they were housed in an enclosure near their mother Nayla who along with partner Leo are the parents of Simba and Suri. The two lions had been brought from Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, in June 2023. The then Minister for Zoos J. Chinchurani had named the two lions Nayla and Leo.

Simba and Suri, born on January 20 this year, were a much-awaited bundle of joy for the zoo authorities since Nayla had three pregnancies before but the offspring did not survive. Even after the birth of the cubs, the challenges were plenty of. Nayla did not look after them or feed them. It fell to a team led by zoo veterinary surgeon Nikesh Kiran and comprising keeper Anil Kumar and livestock inspector Jijo to provide the cubs constant care and attention – nutritious food, vaccination, and medical care.

For context, the shift to an open enclosure marks the start of a new chapter in their journey to adulthood.

Zoo director Manjula Devi P.S., Dr. Nikesh, curator Sangeetha Mohan, and superintendent T.V. Anil Kumar oversaw the shifting of the cubs to the open enclosure.

For now, lion cubs Simba, Suri moved to open enclosure in Thiruvananthapuram zoo for remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.