In a first for the Turtle Back Zoo, two lion cubs were born at the longstanding Essex County zoo on Monday, officials said.

The first-time mother, Makena, and her cubs are being monitored by zoo officials as the first days are “extra critical and uncertain,” according to an announcement by the zoo on Facebook.

Zoo officials said the births are important to keeping up the population of lions in captivity.

“Makena and Demarcus are a genetically valuable pair and, as first-time parents, this birth will contribute to the population of this species,” the zoo said in its announcement. “With lion populations rapidly declining in the wild, these milestones are even more important to securing a future for lions in zoos.”

It is unclear when the cubs will be on exhibit but officials said they w

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