After weeks of anticipation, the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium is pleased to announce both the official August 10 public debut and name of our four-month-old female African lion cub. With great pride, we introduce: Kiazi!

Kiazi was selected as a fitting name as it pays tribute to the language of the African lion’s native range, as well as the cub’s family history. It is the Swahili word for “potato,” a nod to her father, Hondo, who came to Pittsburgh from the Idaho Falls Zoo. “Since she is Hondo’s first offspring and he is from Idaho, keepers loved the name,” says Assistant Curator of Mammals Karen Vacco. “Hondo’s little Idaho potato!”

Pittsburgh Zoo friends submitted a total of 1,141 thoughtful, thematic, funny, beautiful, and heartwarming potential names for the bouncing bundle of fur, which netted $5,705 to help support Kiazi, the lions, and all the incredible animals at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. The Zoo is grateful to all who contributed suggestions to christen our cub and to the community for continuing to participate in building a future for wildlife.

Kiazi was born on April 5 to first-time nine-year-old parents, Hondo and Scarlett. Since then, she has been growing and getting to know the rest of her pride behind the scenes. Her rambunctious personality has been emerging more each day, and now her playful exploration and curiosity will extend to our outdoor lion habitat in the African Savanna. Kiazi is officially expected to be visible starting today, August 10, though, as with any young cub, she will be exploring her habitat on her own schedule.

African lions are considered vulnerable, and numbers have declined by 50 percent over the last 25 years due to habitat loss, loss of prey, and human-lion conflict. Lions can be found in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and their habitat ranges from forest to shrubland and grassland.

African lions are part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan, which is vital to having a healthy, genetically diverse population of lions. “Every lion cub birth is vital to the long-term survival of the species, and each one represents hope for the future,” says Vacco. “We hope Kiazi inspires Zoo guests to learn more about lions and protect them in the wild.”

Guests are welcome to plan their next visit to the Zoo at pittsburghzoo.org