Two African Lions Make Their LA Zoo Debut

Hubert and Kalisa's arrival marks the first time the zoo has had a lion exhibit in two years

There’s a new power couple in town. Hubert and Kalisa, a pair of African lions, made their public debut at the Los Angeles Zoo on Friday.

The companions of six years are from the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle and were introduced to their new LA habitat on March 25, according to a press release by the LA Zoo.

To prepare for the big cats’ arrival, the LA Zoo has made several renovations to the lion habitat.

"Hubert and Kalisa seem to be very comfortable so far and really are a magnificent sight," Jennie Becker, curator of mammals at the LA Zoo said in a press release.

The lions, who are both 15 years old, will replace Lionel and Cookie, who died in 2011 and 2012.

"Guests are always asking us where the lions are," Becker said. "We’re very happy this pair became available, and we think people are going to be excited that we are able to have lions in the zoo again."

The "king and queen of the zoo" met in 2008, but they have not had any children together, said April Spurlock, the public relations manager at the zoo.

Spurlock hopes that the public will visit the zoo to welcome the couple to LA.

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