KEEPERS at West Midland Safari Park are full of pride since the arrival of nine lion cubs.

Three keepers certainly have had their hands full since the African lion cubs were born five weeks ago.

The cubs, eight females and one male, were the first litters to two six-year-old sisters Lora and Marla.

And they have become firm favourites with keepers Shelley Barber, Lucy Pearsall and Claire Harding.

The cubs will be dependent on their mother's milk for about eight weeks.

During this time they will become increasingly mobile, very playful and naughty, but following their mothers' every move just as they would in the wild.