Whipsnade Zoo can reveal the names of its youngest litter of northern African lion cubs, born to mum Waka, following a month-long naming bonanza.

The conservation zoo’s tiny pride have been named Bertie, Oya, Malaika and Kibibi – names chosen by local school children and a prize-draw winner.

The second litter born at the conservation zoo this year, prize-draw winner Matthew Hampstead chose Oya, after the African goddess of wind and lightning for one of the females, and Bertie, referencing Storm Bertie to pay homage to the stormy conditions in which both litters were born.

A long-time zoo fan, Berkhamsted-born Matthew said:

“I entered the prize draw as I wanted to contribute towards all the amazing work being done by ZSL at Whipsnade Zoo and ensure this continues, and I was really excited by the prospect of having the honour of naming the lion cubs.”

“I fell in love with all the animals in the zoo, but the lions were the main reasons behind what made me keep coming back – I couldn't get enough of them! And of course now there will always be a special place in my heart for Bertie and Oya! This is truly an honour to be able to name the lion cubs and I am hugely grateful for the opportunity.”

The names came from a short-list provided by Whipsnade Zoo’s lion keepers, who have been watching the cubs grow and develop their playful personalities. This list was also shared with 24 local schools from Luton and Central Bedfordshire, to vote on the names they liked best, with Malaika and Kibibi, meaning ‘Angel’ and ‘Little Lady’ in Swahili, coming out on top.

The money raised by the prize draw will fund the global conservation work of ZSL, the international charity behind Whipsnade Zoo.

Sarah McGregor, section manager of predators at Whipsnade Zoo, said:

“These cubs mean so much to our visitors, so it's great that we’ve been able to get the local community involved in helping us pick names for them."

“We’re delighted with the names that have been chosen! As the cubs get bigger each day they are showing more of their individual personalities, and we’re now able to see unique spot patterns on their heads, so it's becoming easier to tell each one apart.”

The three older cubs, born to the Zoo’s second lioness Winta in November last year, are being named by ZSL supporters, and their names will be confirmed soon.

Sarah added:

“All seven northern African lion cubs are an important addition to the conservation breeding programme for their threatened subspecies, and they’ve already proven the power of seeing amazing animals helps to educate our visitors not only about the threats lions face in the wild, but also how the public can help us protect the planet and create a world where wildlife thrives”.

As a result of large-scale habitat conversion for logging, livestock farming and housing, the loss of prey through unsustainable hunting, and human/wildlife conflict, 75% of wild African lion populations are declining in the wild.

Whipsnade Zoo, as part of ZSL, supports work in the W-Arli-Pendjari conservation complex, spanning the borders of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Benin, which holds 90% of the lions remaining in West Africa, to support a wide number of species including lions through research, monitoring, and supporting national capacity for wildlife conservation.

Only a short train or car journey away from London, visitors to Whipsnade Zoo this May half-term to see CBeebies stars Mister Maker and Rebecca Keatley will be able to spot the pride of ten lions, as well as 11,000 other animals from 245 species which call the conservation zoo home. Book tickets at Whipsnade Zoo | A ZSL conservation zoo.