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Royal Oak Today
By the People, for the People
Detroit Zoo Seeks Public's Help to Name New Lion Cubs
The zoo is partnering with the Detroit Lions to give away prizes for the winning names.
Published on Mar. 9, 2026
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The Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak is asking the public to help name their three new African lion cubs - one male and two females. The cubs were born in November 2025 to first-time parents, Amirah and Kalu. Fans can vote on Swahili or African-inspired names for the cubs, and the winning names will be announced in the coming weeks. The Detroit Lions are joining the zoo in giving away prizes to randomly selected participants.
Why it matters
Engaging the public to name the new lion cubs at the Detroit Zoo generates excitement and interest around the zoo's newest additions. It also strengthens the partnership between the zoo and the Detroit Lions, providing cross-promotional opportunities that can boost visibility and attendance for both organizations.
The details
The three lion cubs, born in November 2025, are all healthy and growing quickly. For the male cub, the name choices are Fahari (proud) and Khalfani (destined to rule/successor). For the first female cub, the choices are Asatira (legend) and Mosi (she is first). The second female cub's name choices are Aziza (powerful) and Zuberi (strong).
- The lion cubs were born in November 2025.
- The winning names will be announced in the coming weeks.
The players
Detroit Zoo
A zoo located in Royal Oak, Michigan that is seeking public input to name their three new African lion cubs.
Detroit Lions
A professional American football team that is partnering with the Detroit Zoo to give away prizes for the winning lion cub names.
Amirah and Kalu
The first-time parents of the three new lion cubs at the Detroit Zoo.
What’s next
The winning names for the lion cubs will be announced in the coming weeks.
The takeaway
The Detroit Zoo's partnership with the Detroit Lions to let the public name their new lion cubs is a creative way to generate excitement and interest around the zoo's newest additions, while also strengthening the relationship between the two local institutions.
