Mlinzi is a descendant of a long line of lions that lived at Zoos Victoria. His maternal grandfather was Maalo - born at Melbourne Zoo in 1999. Maalo’s mother and aunt, Jespah and Gopah, were also born at Melbourne Zoo in 1990 to Juliana. Jespah gave birth to a litter of 5.1 cubs in 2000 - the last of which (Jarrah) died at the Werribee Open Range Zoo in 2020.
Mlinzi may the only one of his mother’s offspring to reproduce. Kiamba lost a litter of four cubs in 2007; and of her 1.2 offspring to survive to adulthood - one daughter died without producing any offspring; and the other daughter shows reluctance to breed with the males.
