The Asiatic lion news archive - 1999

Stories relating to the Asiatic lion and updates on the captive breeding programme from 1999.

DATELINE : June 17th 1999
Father's pride at breeding success:

TWO Asian lion cubs strolled out into the sunshine yesterday to meet their father for the first time.

Kamal, a five-year-old male, was flown to London Zoo from Helsinki Zoo as part of a European breeding programme for Asian lions. The animal proved a hit with Ruchi, London's ten-year-old female Asian lion, and their cubs - two females - were born on January 16. However, until yesterday Kamal had been kept away from the cubs.

London Zoo said that male Asian lions, which live in the Gir forest of northwest India, are far more solitary than African lions, which tend to sit around near their prides. Keepers were keen to see that the cubs were thriving before chancing them with Kamal. But yesterday, just in time for Father's Day, the cubs were released from their protective house.

“It went off brilliantly. Ruchi was very protective but Kamal managed a little play,” the zoo's spokesman said.

There are estimated to be only 300 Asian lions left in the wild, with 70 in captivity worldwide. It is hoped that the European breeding programme will help to pave the way for a reintroduction into the wild to strengthen the gene pool.

Source : The Times News Service.