Lion Cub ABCs
Posted at 8:20 am August 31, 2006 by Marcia Redding
Lion Camp at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park is home to a growing pride of African lions. Oshana gave birth to Abena and Bakari on May 16; three cubs were born July 20 to Mina. Keeper Marcia Redding is keeping us posted on their development. See her previous blog, Lion Cubs Get 2nd Checkup.
Time for a Lion Camp update! We have been very busy looking after our expanded pride! We have been handling Mina’s 3 cubs, now 6 weeks old, on a daily basis, while their mom enjoys some “alone time” and some choice food items. She has been much more tolerant of our interaction with the cubs than Oshana was with her litter. We have advanced from stroking and scratching the lion cubs to holding them on our laps and finally to picking them up, with plenty of support so they feel secure. Although these sessions are undeniably the high point of our day, they also have a serious purpose. We are hoping that becoming accustomed to gentle restraint will make veterinary exams less stressful for the cubs, as well as facilitating the training we would like to do with them when they are older.
The three cubs all have distinct personalities; it has been fascinating to watch them develop. Cub “A,” a male, is the largest of the three, and the sleepiest. He is lighter in color than his siblings, and his belly sways as he waddles across the floor. Several times he has dozed off while being held by one of his keepers.
Cub “B,” also male, is slightly smaller than his brother and has more spots. He has a more assertive personality and took a bit longer to settle in to the handling sessions. In the beginning, there was some hissing and snarling, until he realized we meant no harm. Now he is very accepting of our attentions.
Cub “C,” the female, is a feisty little bundle. She is much smaller than her brothers and is also more independent. She was the first to explore the far corners of the maternity suite and the first to approach us before we began handling the little ones. Very early on, she would march right up to us, showing no fear at all. She has been very accepting of our handling from the start, and promises to be a real live wire as she matures. We will probably be able to work directly with the cubs for 4 or 5 months, but will eventually move to protected contact to interact with them, as we do with the adults. We will have names for the babies soon, and I will be sure to post them.
Oshana’s cubs, Bakari and Abena (pictured above), continue to grow and thrive. They are each consuming nearly a pound of carnivore diet per day, having worked up appetites with non-stop play out in the exhibit with their mother. They especially enjoy the meaty bones we give them to strengthen their teeth and jaws. They are on exhibit every morning from 9:15 to 11 a.m., so come in early and bring your camera! Lion Camp is an exciting place these days!
Marcia Redding is a senior mammal keeper at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park. She will be answering reader questions about the cubs in her next blog, coming soon!
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August 31st, 2006 at 9:12 am
Marcia, what a great experience to be able to hold these little bundles of fur. Naturally it would be a little girl to be the first to make the first move, she must sense something about you. To little Cub C: YOU GO, GIRL.
August 31st, 2006 at 9:13 am
Marcia:
Thanks for the update. I have to tell you I am pretty envious, getting to play, hug and hold the cubs would be like a dream come true! Thank you for your entertaining updates. More pictures, please!
August 31st, 2006 at 9:20 am
Thank you, Marcia, for another great update. Any chance of pictures? I’m looking forward to the blog with answers to our reader questions, but I have no idea how you keep up so well.
August 31st, 2006 at 9:48 am
Thank you, thank you for this wonderful update, especially the descriptions of their distinct personalities. But I am so jealous. I would give anything to hold and play with these adorable bundles of fur.
August 31st, 2006 at 11:08 am
Great update, glad to learn the ABCs of lion cubs. How close do the two sets of cubs and their mothers get to each other? Will they be exposed to each other at some point? How old will they be when they can join the rest of the pride? Does the human scent on the cubs bother Mina in any way? Would the dog and human scent on Koza have influenced how Mina reacted to him? If so, why would it be different for her own cubs at the same ages and stages of development?
August 31st, 2006 at 1:52 pm
Thank you, Marcia, for the great update on Mina’s cubs and explaining all of their personnalities. I can hardly wait to see them out one day soon and to learn what their names will be. Look forward to more updates on all of the cubs and their Moms and Dad….
August 31st, 2006 at 4:23 pm
I swear - I don’t know what I was thinking! You have the BEST job in the world - and here I am stuck in an office all day! Thank you so much for the update - it certainly was a bright spot in a rather ordinary day. I, of course, am jealous - and need to get myself over to the WAP very soon to see the babies. Congratulations, too, on such a successful breeding program - I know all of the hard work has made a huge difference - and will continue to for many, many years to come. You should all be very proud of yourselves.
September 1st, 2006 at 9:42 am
when will The three little musketeers be on exhibit? lol. will the cubs ever be animal ambassadors? sorry for so many questions. i’m very curious about these angels.
September 1st, 2006 at 12:23 pm
Thanks for the photo of these two, Abena and Bakari. They sure are vivacious little ones romping around the lion camp. I am glad to learn that the litter of Mina is very accepting to the handling of the keepers. May they all grow to be strong and healthy!
September 1st, 2006 at 1:50 pm
Nothing like a little love bite to show that you care - even if it is on your little cubbie butt ; )
September 1st, 2006 at 5:00 pm
Marcia,
Thank you so much for posting updates on all of the cubs! I can’t wait until they are all on exhibit! All of their personalities sound so cute, too! You do have an awesome job! I’m a freshman in high school and would like to be a zoologist and work at the zoo, too. Do you have any advice for me on how to be successful?
Jillian
Editor’s note: For great information about different zoo careers and what it takes, click on “Kid Territory” and select “Zoo Jobs.”
September 4th, 2006 at 12:00 pm
please provide more photos of the cubs. thanks.
September 4th, 2006 at 12:02 pm
i forgot to ask, is there a chance you could get a “cub cam”?
September 15th, 2006 at 5:12 pm
Patricia, thanks for your comments. Many others have inquired about the possibility of a Lion Cam, like the ones that are available for the Pandas and Elephants. Unfortunately, we do not have the means to install one at Lion Camp at this time. We will do our best to post pictures as they are available. Right now, the only way to see Mina’s three cubs is to take a behind-the-scenes tour. These are offered by the Education department and require reservations. Hope this helps!
Editor’s note: For a VIP or Special Tour, please call (619) 718-3000.
May 29th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
~Marcia~
Thanks for the update. I was wondering how I could become zoologist that works the baby animals. If that is how you say it. Iwas wondering because I love animals and would love to work with them some day when I am older I’m in sixth grade. Thanks would love to hear from you thanks.
~McKenna~