Sudan's gift of 4 lion cubs arrive in SE Turkey

By Zuhal Kocalar

GAZIANTEP, Turkey (AA) - Four lion cubs given as a gift to Turkey's president from his Sudanese counterpart during a recent visit to Africa were delivered to their new home, a major zoo, on Thursday.

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir announced the gift to Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his official visit to the Horn of Africa country between Dec. 24 and 27.

Turkey's southeastern province of Gaziantep will be the cubs' brand-new home.

The cats will be officially presented to the press on Saturday at Gaziantep Zoo, the biggest zoo in Turkey and the third largest in Europe.

Erdogan, according to local media reports, initially wanted to give the lion cubs to his grandchildren, but his son-in-law, Energy Minister Berat Albayrak, said the big cats would be too dangerous.