There's a new King of Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle - Xerxes just moved into his exhibit about a week ago and is being set up with 4-year-old lioness Adia who just gave birth to her first litter of cubs in late 2012. They will move in together the first week of May.

Xerxes is from El Paso, Texas and is of South African pedigree (Krugeri). He is 6 years old with a beautiful flowing black mane. He has a calm, inquisitive demeanor (he was exploring all over the exhibit this morning) and likes to chuff and roar!

I greatly look forward to photographing him and Adia together in the future and hopefully they can continue the Circle of Life together.

This was a very fortunate shot I waited a long time for. Such a pretty kitty

Welcome Xerxes!