Abandoned 2 months ago, 3 lion cubs now fit to roar

Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, August 14

Two months after they were abandoned by their mother, three of five Asiatic lion cubs were declared medically fit on Tuesday. They were taken back to Pipli zoo in flower-decked wooden enclosures.

Round-the-clock observation by the Haryana wildlife authorities has yielded results. Forest Minister Rao Narbir Singh named the male cub as Arjun and the female cubs as Gita and Sudha.

Five cubs had been born to a pair of Gir lions, Sakshi and Mohan, at the zoo on June 7. Two of the newborn cubs did not survive as they had paralysis.

“During constant monitoring, it was found that mother Sakshi did not lick the three remaining cubs in 24 hours and she was not lactating. Following protocol, we decided to hand-rear the cubs as the lioness had discarded her newborn,” said veterinary expert Dr Ashok Khasa.

On June 26, The Tribune had quoted Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Anil Hooda that the next two months were crucial for the cubs’ survival. They were quarantined to ensure protection from infection.

The three cubs were being fed special artificial milk powder manufactured in the US.

Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) ML Rajvanshi said the cubs would soon be shifted to a big cage for free movement. A proposal to shift the cubs to Rohtak zoo is also being considered, he said.

The expert said as lions born in captivity have a low survival rate, the health of the cubs is under watch.

On Tuesday, the minister appreciated the efforts of Wildlife Department officials and veterinary expert Dr Ashok Khasa for the initiative to provide healthcare to the cubs.

The pair of lions, Sakshi and Mohan, was brought to Pipli zoo from Junagadh in Gujarat in December 2015. Sources said Sakshi had delivered in the past two consecutive years, but the cubs did not survive.

“Lions live in a large group in natural conditions. Lionesses in the group collectively take care of cubs. But as Sakshi was born in captivity, she did not feed the babies. But the health parameters of the three cubs are encouraging. We hope they will lead a healthy life,” Rajvanshi said.