This definitely makes sense, not so much to keep it a surprise but to keep information out of the public's hands until it's less of a risk to share it. I have heard staff from other zoos particularly committed to nontransparency say "They're still young
" or "They're not pregnant, we hope they will be in the future though! " when asked about confirmed pregnancies, or about the breeding status of animals who are very well within the reproductive age range for their species.
Or move them to White Oak Conservation to live with their herd their, which include their half sisters
The lion cubs were clearly an accident, the male was vasectomized at the time of their conception. It wasn't in any way planned for or predicted and was never repeated afterwards. I don't see cause for repercussions there when the zoo took the appropriate steps to prevent it from happening in the first place.
Largely people don't like the concept, but some of the enclosures are much smaller than they should be.
That is the plan but I believe they are still waiting for the rest of the herd at the Center for elephant conservation to arrive before breeding
