Lion cubs celebrate first birthday with mom, Zola, at the Virginia Zoo Sunday, May 2, 2010 (Virginia Zoo photo by David Totten).

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – Two lion cubs from the Virginia Zoo will be moving to their new home in Pittsburgh this week.

Wednesday, August 17 is the final day Razi and Ajani, two of four lion cubs born in May 2009, will be on exhibit at the Virginia Zoo.

The last of the litter of four, Dakari, will be moving to Disney’s Animal Kingdom later this year, a news release from the Virginia Zoo said.

The 2-year-old males will be moving to the Pittsburgh Zoo on August 18. The lions will be transported in special cages on a truck and be accompanied on the drive by the mammal curator and staff from the Pittsburg Zoo.

“It’s been a great opportunity to watch a second litter of lion cubs grow up, and we’ll be sad to see Razi and Ajani go,” says Greg Bockheim, executive director of the Virginia Zoo. “But it is time. It is natural for them to separate from their parents and to establish their own prides. We’re proud that the Virginia Zoo is part of this important Species Survival Plan, and that Razi and Ajani will be instrumental in ensuring the stability and continuity of lion populations.”

When Razi and Ajani were born, they represented the second largest litter for the zoo’s lioness, Zola.

Updated: Tuesday, 16 Aug 2011, 3:06 PM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 16 Aug 2011, 12:33 PM EDT

http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_news/norfolk/two-lion-cubs-moving-to-pittsburg