Back in early September, the San Francisco Zoo’s 13 year old lioness, Sukari, gave birth to a lion cub. Mama and baby have been safely ensconced in The Lion House ever since…until this week.

Ladies and gentlemen, I advise you head on over to the zoo to take part in the collective sighing and squeeeing going on around the lion enclosure. It doesn’t get much more adorable than a lion cub lolling around his mother. We watched him roll around on a plastic tub, bat at leaves, and alternately give his mom furry kisses and pounce at her ears. (Mothers around the world will identify with Sukari’s tired, soft response to her little cub.)

The male lion cub is the first to be born at the zoo in 16 years. Zookeepers stationed at the lion enclosure were taking name suggestions from the kids, and letting kids feel lion and other large cat pelts. We had a terrific time and can’t wait to go back.