During my travels through South Carolina in October of 2008, I stopped by the River Banks Zoo in Columbia. To my surprise I came across the five cubs featured in these photos. I was told they were 4 months old and the offspring of two different lioness. The two litters were born within days of each other. I spent 2 days observing and photographing these energetic youngsters as the romped and played constantly.



On the second day, when I arrived all five cubs were sitting on the ledge. It humors me when people see that particular photo, they are amazed at how I was able to get them to pose for me. I just smile and think to myself......It was pure luck.



It's opportunities like this that make our zoos, aquariums and animal preserves so valuable to all of us. They allow us to enjoy, experience and learn about some of animals that we would have never been able to see without them.



Enjoy the book,



Keith Lovejoy