Courtesy of Phoenix Zoo
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It was a joyous day on June 3, 2024, when Phoenix Zoo lioness Zuri delivered two healthy cubs, males Azizi and Jasiri.
Now, it’s time for the boys to move on.
The zoo announced Tuesday that the young lions will leave Phoenix next month for their new home at Zoo Miami in Florida.
“At nearly a year and a half old, the young males have reached the age when they would naturally leave their family pride in the wild,” the announcement explained. “The move will take place in early November and comes at the recommendation of the Lion Species Survival Plan (SSP), which guides the management of lions in AZA-accredited zoos. Their relocation also supports future breeding opportunities here at the Phoenix Zoo.”
The zoo will mark the lions’ departure with a goodbye party on Sunday, Oct. 26. At the “Miami Vice”-themed event, the public can watch as Jasiri and Azizi enjoy special enrichment toys; write cards for the lions; learn about them from zoo volunteers; and enjoy a “Miami Vice”-themed photo op. The party will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. and is included with zoo admission.
Courtesy of Phoenix Zoo
Jasiri and Azizi were the first lion cubs born at the Phoenix Zoo since 1976. Their mother, Zuri, came to Phoenix from the Pueblo Zoo in Colorado in 2023. Their father was Boboo, a beloved resident of the zoo who was humanely euthanized on June 28, 2024, less than a month after the cubs were born, after he was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer.
Jasiri and Azizi are Boboo’s only offspring.
The cubs’ names were selected through a public voting process; Jasiri means “brave” in Swahili, and Azizi means “precious” in Arabic/Swahili.
Phoenix Zoo is located at 455 N. Galvin Parkway. Cost is $39.95 for adults and $29.95 for children ages 3 to 13.
