They are kept out of sight with their mother

The unexpected birth of two African lions cubs in France

The cubs are in good health.

AFP

Two cubs were born in the Amneville Zoo in northeastern France on August 22, which is a "sudden" birth, as the zoo described it, given the age of their parents, who are African lions, as the male is 17 years old, while the lioness is 12 years old.

The zoo said in a statement that the birth took place under the eyes of the visitors, noting that it was ruling out any new birth for this couple "due to the advanced age of the male."

The African lion usually lives up to 12 years "in a natural environment".

The zoo expressed its relief at this "good news for the conservation of African lions", an endangered species of which only 35,000 specimens remain in Africa.

The zoo confirmed that the two cubs, a male and a female, were "in good health" and were placed "out of sight" with their mother, waiting to be weaned and vaccinated.

And she announced that the public will "soon" be able to choose their names through social networks.

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