New cubs for Bisanadi Pride, in Kenya

The new Bisanadi cubs

In the heart of Kenya, 220 miles northeast of capital city Nairobi, Meru National Park is a critical site for our work. With your support, Born Free has helped Kenya Wildlife Service keep lions safe, in this vast 336-square-mile park, since 2014. We work hard to monitor the 50 or so adult lions, and their cubs, and help them live alongside local communities in a more harmonious way. So, every new birth is a cause for celebration. 

Joseph Putunoi, Meru Landscape Manager

A few days ago, our Species Monitoring Team briefly glimpsed new cubs, during their routine activities to check on wildlife, in the Bisanadi area of Meru National Park. But, were they part of the Bisanadi Pride, and who was the mother?

Days later, Enock, Rita, Irene and Victor were delighted to see the youngsters again, this time confirming they were in the company of Bisanadi Pride lioness sisters Gilly and Amani. They counted three cubs, who looked about four months of age, and realised Gilly was the mum.

Seven-year-old Amani is well-known to Born Free. Her name means ‘Peace’ in Swahili and – in the peak of fitness and health – she was the first lioness we fitted with a lightweight satellite collar, earlier this year. We wanted to learn more about how the lions behave and where they go, as we help them coexist with local people.

Gilly is known for climbing trees

With a distinctive scar on her right hind leg, and a notch on her left ear, her sister Gilly is readily identifiable in the field. Interestingly, she’s known for her unusual tendency to climb trees – not commonly observed in lions within the ecosystem, but always a joy to see!  

Based on our on-going records, Gilly is already a proven successful mum, with her first recorded litter documented in February 2025. Estimated to have been born in January 2024, this consisted of three female cubs: Chiokaraine, Pip, and Sarabi, who are now thriving subadults. 

Now, Amani’s GPS collar has played a critical role in the successful location of the females and new cubs in both sightings. The collar data enabled the monitoring team to concentrate their search efforts within areas being actively utilised by the pride.  

The cubs are already learning to climb

But that’s not the only good news. The team also fleetingly spotted another new cub, perhaps just one month old. They presume their mum to be another adult female in the pride, but they moved away before she could be positively identified. We will report back when we find out more! 

According to our records, the Bisanadi Pride currently comprises 22 known individuals, not least the four newly documented cubs. The pride also includes one more elderly adult, four prime adults, seven young adults, three subadults and three large cubs.

Sadly, there has been an increase in snares within the park in recent months, set illegally by poachers to trap wildlife for their meat. Although lions are not necessarily the target, these lethal wire nooses can pose a terrible threat. So, Born Free is working hard, operating ‘sweep patrols’ within areas most affected to try and remove snares before they can hard animals.  

Thank you for supporting our vital work to monitor the lions of Meru, as we do everything we can to keep them safe – not least every precious new cub.