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The Asiatic lion news archive - 2006
DATELINE: June 2, 2006
Born feart - but cowardly lions are sure to be a roaring success
IT looks like they will need some training in how to be kings of the jungle.
Excited zoo staff had hoped to unveil their newest arrivals to the world yesterday, but the camera- shy pair turned out to be real scaredy-cats.
The two cubs are the offspring of Kamlesh and Royal, two of the three Asiatic lions at the zoo, and were born just over four weeks ago. They have been closely guarded by Kamlesh and the other lioness Gita since they were born, while zoo staff have closed off parts of the £300,000 purpose- built enclosure to the public to give the family as much peace and quiet as possible.
Royal, the father, has been separated from the two cubs as a precaution, and is likely to be kept apart from the cubs until they are six months old.
If the father is not kept away, there is a risk he might kill the cubs if he doesn't recognise them as his own, imitating lions' behaviour in the wild.
Zoo keepers have not yet been able to check the sex of the two cubs, as they have been so fiercely guarded by their mother, but have kept a close watch on the lions and are delighted to see that the cubs are happy and healthy.
The zoo saw its first lion cubs born last November but the three youngsters died of a genetic problem less than a month after their births.
The latest arrivals, which are currently about the size of large house cats, have made it through the crucial early period, and in another four weeks will be closely examined by staff when they are given their inoculations.
Senior keeper Sharon Hatton said: "They have been out in the enclosure a few times, just following their mother, although generally she has picked them up and carried them back inside again.
"They look in good health and we have been listening to them closely, as they will call out if they need attention or food.
"They have been calling out regularly but not for long periods of time which shows that they are being well looked after.
"Their mother is very protective and when we are giving the cubs their inoculations, and checking what sex they are, we will just distract the lionesses and grab the cubs, to save us having to tranquillise them."
She added: "Royal has had to be kept apart as a precaution as we just don't know how he might react. If the cubs are male for example he may feel more aggressive towards them.
"The area where he is being kept is separated from the enclosure by a fence and we will be able to get some idea of how he reacts to them and just see how it goes.
"The cubs will be fully grown in just over a year, although in six months we should be able to put them all together again."
The enclosure is being opened up again this weekend and staff admit there is likely to be huge interest from members of the public keen to catch a glimpse of their latest arrivals.
And while they may not be out in the enclosure regularly for a few weeks, the cubs will be at the zoo for at least two years before they are moved to other zoos as part of the international breeding programme.
This is aimed at boosting the numbers of Asiatic lions, with a view to eventually introducing more into the wild where their population is under increasing threat.
They have been declared the most endangered large cat species in the world, and it is estimated that there are fewer than 350 remaining in the wild, with all of them found in the Gir Forest in northern India.
Zoo chief executive David Windmill said: "This will be an exciting time as we watch these cubs grow and develop here at Edinburgh Zoo.
"As well as thrilling our visitors, these cubs will be a welcome addition to the international breeding programme so essential for the conservation of the Asiatic lion."
Source: The Scotsman
http://heritage.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=951&id=816892006
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