This past weekend the Cougar Mountain Zoo's three lion cubs celebrated their first birthday, and I swung by to get some photos of the occasion.

(Cross-posted from my site, where there are more cub photos to see: https://andrewflenniken.com/2026/09/01/september-1st-2026-a-three-of-cubs/)

I missed the whip-cream smeared windows in their tunnel, but caught the sugar crash afterwards when they were plopped out on a platform together.  I did manage to be present later for their "birthday cakes": a frozen disc of blood sandwiched between two discs of frozen goat cheese.  They seemed to enjoy those a lot, unsurprisingly.  :D

Gear: Nikon Z 7II, Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 G

#Photography #Nature #WildlifePhotography #CougarMountainZoo #Lion #LionCub #Nikon #NikonCreators