The Phoenix Zoo has revealed the names of its newest African lion cubs, Azizi and Jasiri, following the conclusion of an online voting contest. The names were selected from a pool of eight options, showcasing the cubs' African heritage. After counting over 10,000 votes, the zoo shared that Azizi means "precious" in Arabic and Swahili, while Jasiri translates to "brave" in Swahili. The contest results were first reported by FOX 10 Phoenix and later confirmed by KTAR News.
While the details of the cubs' personalities were shared, highlighting Azizi as the more timid and Jasiri as bolder, they are the first lion cubs born at the zoo since 1976. Although the cubs remain in a separate enclosure with their mother, Zuri, they are set to make their Predator Passage habitat a playful home sometime in October, after being birthed by their mother in June. Tragically, their father, Boboo, was euthanized in late June due to an aggressive form of cancer, a fact noted by FOX 10 Phoenix. The duo is expected to inherit their late father's strength and contribute to the growth of the habitat.
The Phoenix Zoo, located at 455 N. Galvin Parkway in Papago Park, operates from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday and extends hours on Friday to Sunday from 8 a.m. up till 4 p.m., with early entry at 7 a.m. for members, according to KTAR News. Following the cubs' integration into their new exhibit, zoo hours will adjust in October to a 9 a.m.-4 p.m. schedule seven days a week, allowing even more visitors the chance to witness the young lions' development.
With the excitement building for the cubs' upcoming public debut, the zoo is already drumming up anticipation for visitors eager to see Azizi and Jasiri's frolics in their new environment. For the public, the anticipation of finally laying eyes on the lions, carrying both their mother's nurturing and the resilience of their father's legacy, has bred a sense of communal involvement. This feeling was further fostered by the democratic process of the naming contest, wherein the public played a vital role, as detailed by FOX 10 Phoenix.
