New cubs have taken their place in the circle of life at a New Orleans zoo.

The Audubon Zoo welcomed three healthy African lion cubs after their mom, Kali, gave birth to them on Oct. 19, the zoo announced on Oct. 29. 

Kali and the cubs’ dad, Arnold, made Audubon Zoo history by becoming the first lion pair to have three surviving cubs in a litter.

“Every lion cub birth is vital to the survival of this iconic species,” Audubon Nature Institute President and CEO Michael J. Sawaya said.

The cubs and their mother will not be introduced to their pride at the zoo for roughly 12 weeks to give them time to bond and get vaccinations.

The cubs’ father and aunts, Nia and Zuri, will stay in the zoo’s lion exhibit.

Kali and Arnold previously welcomed two male cubs in 2020, which had marked the first lion births at the zoo since 1984.

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“Our dedicated animal care team has worked tirelessly to get this pride ready for these new arrivals,” said Daine Appleberry, Audubon Zoo’s senior vice president and managing director. “Watching these cubs grow will inspire our guests to learn more about lions and how to protect them.”

The zoo emphasized that Africa’s lion population, which is listed as a “vulnerable” species, has declined by half in the past 25 years “due to habitat loss, poaching and reduced prey availability.”