Thiruvananthapuram: Minister OJ Janeesh Kumar visited the zoo on Thursday to meet its much-loved “viral babies” — lion cubs Simba and Soori. The cubs are currently being housed in a special room at the zoo’s quarantine centre.

The minister spent time with the cubs, petting and interacting with them. Simba and Soori, displaying their playful nature, quickly warmed up to him. The cubs were born on January 21 to the zoo’s lions, Nyla and Leo, and are being cared for at the zoo hospital.

Due to health complications, the cubs were shifted to the hospital’s quarantine centre for special care. For nearly the first 10 days after birth, they had not opened their eyes. They were also unable to feed properly, resulting in weight loss.

At one point, the female cub’s blood sugar level dropped dangerously low, putting her in a critical condition. A dedicated team worked around the clock to nurse the cubs back to health, and they eventually recovered.

Videos of Simba and Soori being cared for by zoo staff recently went viral on social media, winning the hearts of animal lovers.

During his first visit to the zoo after assuming charge as minister, OJ Janeesh Kumar expressed a desire to see the cubs. He also said efforts would be made to bring more animals to the zoo. Zoo Veterinary Surgeon Dr. Nikesh Kiran and other staff members accompanied him during the visit.