Qatar’s Lara the lioness has recently given birth to five healthy cubs, according to the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME).

The animals are being housed at the Doha Zoo, which has been closed to the public since 2012.

However, the facility continues to host wildlife, and has welcomed the birth of several other animals in recent years, including a baby giraffe in May 2015.

In a statement, the MME said the cubs will spend their first two months solely with their mother, and begin eating meat from their third month onward.

Safari plans

The 30-year old Doha Zoo, which is located opposite Aspire Park and Villaggio Mall, was shut amid criticism over its small size, outdated facilities and treatment of animals.

Plans are afoot to replace the facility with a multi-million dollar safari park.

The initial scheduled opening date is late 2017, but this may be pushed back, as the current zoo must first be demolished and animals moved to another facility.

Earlier this year, more than 170 animals were relocated from the zoo to the new Al Khor Park.

The new zoo is expected to be seven times bigger than the current zoo and will host some 3,000 animals.

It will be divided into several regions themed around the natural and climatic features of three continents: An “African safari” characterized by forests and savanas, an “Asia woodland” with mountains and a South American rainforest.

Thoughts?