Siegfried & Roy's White Lion 'Prosperity' Gives Birth
CINCINNATI, OH — Siegfried & Roy made conservation history April 1 when their White Lioness Prosperity, gave birth to four Magical White Lions at the Cincinnati Zoo. The birth was the largest ever in the United States. The cubs will greet the media at an 11 a.m. press conference on Thursday (April 26) at the zoo with Siegfried & Roy making the introductions.
Siegfried & Roy's Las Vegas-born Prosperity delivered the litter at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens, where she is on loan along with two males, Sunshine and Future. The births increase to 23 the number of Magical White Lions in Siegfried & Roy's multi-continent program to save the rare species from extinction.
"It's another miracle," says Roy. "Prosperity was born on Christmas Day. Now, for Easter, we have the Pride of the Millenium."
Unlike her own traumatic birth, Prosperity has been the perfect mother. The new mom struggled for life when she was born (weighing just more than two pounds), and has since captured the hearts of so many people since her battle for survival.
"My little girl has become a very special lady," said Roy with a smile and tears running down his cheek. "Siegfried and I couldn't be happier. What has happened in Cincinnati was our dream, our hope. It's amazing how quickly the time went. It seems like only yesterday that she was born and I was feeding her with an eyedropper. We really didn't know if she would make it."
Despite the distance, Roy has continually visited Prosperity, in addition to receiving continual reports from the zoo's staff.
"Allowing Prosperity to live in Cincinnati was one of the most difficult decisions of my life," Roy added. "It was like Mother Nature inside my head telling me that this was the right thing to do; this is what is necessary to have the Magical White Lions flourish.
Siegfried & Roy have also decided that since Prosperity is the official mascot of the United States Senate, to have the people from the Heartland of America select the names for the cubs. A contest is being held at the Cincinnati Zoo, though entries can be submitted by everyone.
Siegfried & Roy are the men who have given back to the world the Magical White Lions and Royal White Tigers. Their tireless conservation efforts will mean that the children of the future will never have to ask, "What happened to the animals?"
