UPDATE: Smithsonian Lion Naming Event

Lion Cub
One of the Smithsonian National Zoo's Seven Lion Cubs

Last week, we reported that The Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, DC was hosting a special naming event for one of its seven brand new lion cubs. When it was also announced that Skander Keynes and Georgie Henley would be at the event, fans could only guess what one lion would be named.

Sure enough, they were right. The National Zoo is now home to “Aslan”! The cub is ten weeks old and is the son of Luke and Nababiep. The seven cubs are part of two seperate liters, with the other four cubs belonging to Shera. The rest of Aslan’s liter includes Baruti and Lusaka.

In a press statement from the event Zoo director Dennis Kelly said, “We are grateful to 20th Century Fox and Walden Media for their generosity and proud to name one of our cubs after the character in the beloved books by C.S. Lewis. The fictional Aslan is wise, fearless and regal. The real-life Aslan will play a key role in conservation as an ambassador for his species.”

“Aslan” will make his debut later this month depending on the weather. If you are ever in the DC area and happen to be at the zoo, make sure to say hello to him! You can find out more at the Smithsonian’s official website.

Skander and Georgie with Aslan at Lion Naming event
Skander Keynes (Edmund) and Georgie Henley (Lucy) with "Aslan" and one of his handlers.

21 Comments

  1. Finally a real Aslan! He is adorable and it is a perfect name if he is to be an ambassador for his kind and for the animal kingdom. Go Aslan!

  2. “Youc an find out more at the Smithsonian’s official website.”
    sorry but I always notice typos. 🙂 cool a lion named Aslan!

  3. This is not the only lion named Aslan. I volunteered at a wild animal sanctuary where they had a lion named Aslan. Although, they also called him Tubby.

  4. This is pretty off topic of the lion but the Silver Chair is on IMB and says “in development” coming out in 2011! Does this mean it has been greenlit for them to make the next one?!

  5. I think he definatly is an Aslan, he’s got that twinkeling Aslan-nes in his eyes 🙂 Go make everyone proud little Aslan!

  6. aw! now I want a pet Nightfury, a pet talking mouse that can’t shut up, and a pet Lion! Well, I’d rather have a real Aslan, which couldn’t be my pet, but I just want to wrap my arms around a lion right now! How cute!! 🙂

    How thrilled I bet Georige and Skandar were to see a lion after all the Narnia they’ve been involved in! 🙂

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