When a lion cub was born at the Denver Zoo on July 25, 2019, people couldn’t get enough of the photos and videos posted online.

The cub made its debut to the public in September of last year and his name, Tatu, was revealed in October.

“Tatu” is the Swahili word for the number three. Tatu is Neliah’s third cub.

The zoo held an online vote to allow the public to choose the cub’s name – the other options were Meru and Moremi. To vote, people had to make a donation, and the $12,000 raised will go to thee Lion Recovery Fund as well as the care for animals at the zoo.

According to KDVR News, the zoo held an online vote allowing the public to choose the cub’s name – the other choices were Meru and Moremi. Tatu is Swahili for the number 3 – and this cub is the third for mother Neliah.

Meeting dad

In a video shared on September 6th of last year, the zoo showed the sweet first meeting between baby Tatu and his father Tobias. It was one of many “cubdates” the zoo posted to keep fans abreast of new feline developments.

“Everyone is extremely excited and anxious to pay him a visit once he makes his public debut,” Jake Kubié, the director of communications, told Bored Panda. “The weekly updates we’ve been posting to our social channels are met with an outpouring of “Ohhs” and “Ahhs.” [And] we’re doing our best to give everyone their cub fix while they wait to see him in person!”

They were even more eager after seeing that first sweet moment between father and son.

The video begins with Tatu playing on his own and ends with him snuggling up with his half-sister, 4-year-old Kamara.

“She is just the most attentive and affectionate older sister,” according to the Denver Zoo’s Instagram account.

But the comments were mostly about this special moment:

“He is so precious! I love dad’s interaction with him, so gentle from such a powerful creature,” said a viewer.

A tense moment

Not all males are gentle around their cubs and introducing a new member of the pride can be fraught with anxiety for zookeepers. In the wild, males often kills the cubs of a pride they take over in order to preserve their own genetic line. But it’s not common with their own cubs – it’s just that there’s a moment when a father meets its cub and has to realize it’s his.

In a comment, the zoo explained how Tatu was introduced after his birth:

“A few days later, the cub met his Aunt Sabi, who has been historically really great with cubs. Then he met his sister Kamara, who adores him, and finally, when all the females were comfortable with it, he met his dad Tobias.”

And when fans asked if mom was nearby, the zoo confirmed that she was, of course, right there.

“…mom, Neliah and Sabi were all present while dad met the cub, and were ready to intervene. They felt comfortable with his presence, and allowed him to get that close.”

Lions in the rough

Tatu and family are African lions, half of which have disappeared over the last 25 years because of poaching and habitat destruction.

“We hope that by seeing our little lion cub, people will be inspired and take action to help protect his wild counterparts and other wildlife around the world,” the Denver Zoo stressed.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, Tatu and his dad Tobias are still best buds.

Be sure to scroll down below and see the sweet video for yourself.

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Source: Facebook – Denver Zoo, Bored Panda, KDVR News