Czech zoo welcomes 4 rare Barbary lion cubs whose population is extinct in the wild

DVUR KRALOVE, Czech Republic (AP) — Four Barbary lion cubs were born recently in a Czech zoo, a vital contribution for a small surviving population of the rare lion that is extinct in the wild.

The three females and one male were seen playing in their outdoor enclosure at Dvůr Králové Safari Park on Wednesday, enjoying themselves under the watchful eyes of their parents, Khalila and Bart.

That will change soon. As part of an international endangered species program that coordinates efforts for their survival in captivity, the cubs will be sent to other participating parks, including the Beersheba zoo in Israel.

Chances are that might not be the end of the story for the animal.

Dvůr Králové Deputy Director Jaroslav Hyjánek said that while preliminary steps have been taken for a possible reintroduction of the Barbary lion into its natural habitat, it’s still a “far distant future.”

The majestic member of the Northern lion subspecies, the Barbary lion once roamed freely its native northern Africa, including the Atlas Mountains.

A symbol of strength, they were almost completely wiped out due to human activities. Many were killed by gladiators in Roman times, while overhunting and a loss of habitat contributed to their extinction later.

The last known photo of a wild lion was taken in 1925, while the last individual was killed in 1942.

It’s believed the last small populations went extinct in the wild in the middle of the 1960s.

Fewer than 200 Barbary lions are currently estimated to live in captivity

Hyjánek said that after initial talks with Moroccan authorities, who have not rejected the idea of their reintroduction, a conference of experts has been planned to take place in Morocco late this year or early 2026 to decide whether it would make sense to go ahead with such a plan in one of the national parks in the Atlas Mountains.

Any reintroduction would face numerous bureaucratic and other obstacles. Since the lion has not been present in the environment for such a long time, the plans would have to ensure their protection, a sufficient prey population and cooperation and approval from local communities.

Hyjánek said such a move is still worth trying if it turns out to be sustainable.

“It’s important to have such a vision for any animal, “ he said. “Without it, the existence of zoos wouldn’t make sense.”

One of four Barbary lion cubs, that were born recently at the Safari Park Dvur Kralove, runs in its enclosure, Czech Republic, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Male Barbary lion Bart and female Khalila rest in their enclosure, Czech Republic, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

One of four Barbary lion cubs, that were born recently at the Safari Park Dvur Kralove, plays with parents, Czech Republic, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Three of four Barbary lion cubs, that were born recently at the Safari Park Dvur Kralove, play with each other at their enclosure, Czech Republic, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

One of four Barbary lion cubs, that were born recently at the Safari Park Dvur Kralove, rests with its parents Khalila, left, and Bart at their enclosure, Czech Republic, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

One of four Barbary lion cubs, that were born recently at the Safari Park Dvur Kralove, plays with parents, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, in Dvur Kralove, Czech Republic. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

One of four Barbary lion cubs, that were born recently at the Safari Park Dvur Kralove, runs in its enclosure, Czech Republic, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Male Barbary lion Bart and female Khalila rest in their enclosure, Czech Republic, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

One of four Barbary lion cubs, that were born recently at the Safari Park Dvur Kralove, plays with parents, Czech Republic, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Three of four Barbary lion cubs, that were born recently at the Safari Park Dvur Kralove, play with each other at their enclosure, Czech Republic, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

One of four Barbary lion cubs, that were born recently at the Safari Park Dvur Kralove, rests with its parents Khalila, left, and Bart at their enclosure, Czech Republic, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. forces in the Caribbean Sea have seized another sanctioned oil tanker that the Trump administration says has ties to Venezuela, part of a broader U.S. effort to take control of the South American country’s oil.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote on social media that the U.S. Coast Guard had boarded the Motor Tanker Veronica early Thursday. She said the ship had previously passed through Venezuelan waters and was operating in defiance of President Donald Trump’s "established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean.”

U.S. Southern Command said Marines and sailors launched from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to take part in the operation alongside a Coast Guard tactical team, which Noem said conducted the boarding as in previous raids. The military said the ship was seized “without incident.”

Noem posted a brief video that appeared to show part of the ship’s capture. The black-and-white footage showed helicopters hovering over the deck of a merchant vessel while armed troops dropped down on the deck by rope.

The Veronica is the sixth sanctioned tanker seized by U.S. forces as part of the effort by Trump’s administration to control the production, refining and global distribution of Venezuela’s oil products and the fourth since the U.S. ouster of Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise nighttime raid almost two weeks ago.

The Veronica last transmitted its location on Jan. 3 as being at anchor off the coast of Aruba, just north of Venezuela’s main oil terminal. According to the data it transmitted at the time, it was partially filled with crude.

The ship is currently listed as flying the flag of Guyana and is considered part of the shadow fleet that moves cargoes of oil in violation of U.S. sanctions.

According to its registration data, the ship also has been known as the Galileo, owned and managed by a company in Russia. In addition, a tanker with the same registration number previously sailed under the name Pegas and was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department for moving cargoes of illicit Russian oil.

As with prior posts about such raids, Noem and the military framed the seizure as part of an effort to enforce the law. Noem argued that the multiple captures show that “there is no outrunning or escaping American justice.”

However, other officials in Trump's Republican administration have made clear that they see the actions as a way to generate cash as they seek to rebuild Venezuela’s battered oil industry and restore its economy.

Trump met with executives from oil companies last week to discuss his goal of investing $100 billion in Venezuela to repair and upgrade its oil production and distribution. His administration has said it expects to sell at least 30 million to 50 million barrels of sanctioned Venezuelan oil.

This story has been corrected to show the Veronica is the fourth, not the third, tanker seized by U.S. forces since Maduro's capture.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks with reporters at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks with reporters at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks with reporters at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks with reporters at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks with reporters at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a press conference, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks at a news conference at Harry Reid International Airport, Nov. 22, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill, File)