Fort Worth Zoo shares photos of 'playful' male lion cub named Moja born 3lbs who has already shot up to 16lbs, loves playing with his mom's tail and will soon meet his dad for the first time

Fort Worth Zoo has announced its newest addition to their Predators of Asia & Africa lion habitat - an adorable lion cub named Moja.

Moja was born October 20 at 5:37 pm to proud mom, Saba, and dad, Jabulani, and weighed just 2.7 pounds when he was four days old.

The little lion is Saba's first cub and has already begun imitating predator-prey behaviors. like playing with his mother's tail, in the weeks since the zoo welcomed him.

Moja has yet to meet his father and the Texas zoo's other female lion, Abagabe.

However, the now-16-pound lion cub is still growing and will eventually be introduced to Jabulani when he's big enough for the zoo's habitat.

Moja was born October 20 at 5:37 pm to proud mom, Saba, and dad, Jabulani, and has not met his father no the other female lion, 

Moja was born October 20 at 5:37 pm to proud mom, Saba, and dad, Jabulani, and has not met met his father or the other female lion, Abagabe

When Moja is big enough, he will become an official member of the zoo's Predators of Asia & Africa lion habitat with the three other lions at the location

Jabulani, Saba, and Abagabe, were born in a South African wildlife sanctuary in 2012 and began living at the Fort Worth Zoo later that year.

The African lions are part of the zoo's Predators of Asia & Africa habitat that opened on June 22, 2023.

Moja, the first lion cub born at the Fort Worth Zoo in nine years and the first to eventually be integreated into the habitat, has been carefully watched by keepers since his birth.

'Moja has been behind the scenes growing and bonding with Mom, while keepers have kept a close eye on his development and wellbeing,' the zoo said in a statement to NBC DFW.

Saba has frequently been nursing, bathing, and playing with Moja and has even carried him around their enclosure.

It's still being determined exactly when Moja will join the habitat, but the zoo keepers want to make sure that he can handle the space and water features before he does.

Moja may not be appearing to zoo-goers just yet, but users on Instagram are loving the photos and the video of him posted on their account.

Most social media users have responded positively to the new cub on Instagram and are excited to see Moja in person

Instagram users have called Moja 'cute' and 'adorable,' and one person was lucky to spot the cub by chance.

'Caught a little glimpse of him today in the side yard with keepers. He looks adorable!!!!,' the user wrote.

Others have called Moja's parents 'gorgeous' and were sad not to see the tiny cub in public.

Interestingly enough, hardly anyone commented on the fun fact revealed in the video caption: 'Moja (pronounced mow-jah) means one in Swahili.'