I did health checks for this Blackpool Zoo lion cub's father 11 years ago, it's a full circle moment!

A zoo keeper has experienced a special full-circle moment after helping carry out routine health checks on a lion’s cubs, 11 years after assisting with their father’s checks as a youngster.

In August 2015, keeper Adam helped with a routine health check for Khari when the lion was around 12 weeks old. More than a decade later, Adam was once again involved in carrying out the same checks, this time on Khari’s own cubs.

The milestone highlights the long-term care, dedication and expertise provided by zoo keepers throughout an animal’s life, as well as the importance of conservation breeding programmes in supporting vulnerable species.

The arrival of the next generation provides a rewarding reminder of how the work carried out by animal care teams can contribute to the future of species at risk. Adam’s involvement in both generations of Khari’s family makes the occasion particularly significant, demonstrating the lasting connections that can develop between keepers and the animals in their care.

The moment also reflects the role of routine health checks in maintaining animal welfare, with keepers able to monitor the animals’ health as they grow and develop. For Adam, being involved in the care of Khari as a young cub and later helping with the health checks of his offspring marks a memorable milestone in his work with the lions.

It is also a reminder of the longer-term rewards of conservation breeding programmes, which help support the next generation of vulnerable species.